Heartbreaking Footage: Dateline Follows Police Evicting Families From Their Homes

Dateline NBC correspondent Chris Hansen traveled around the country, riding along with police who were carrying out evictions, and interviewing the families who were being removed from their homes.

The footage is emotional, take a look:

Hansen then returned to visit with one of the families, which moved into a neighbor's home, who itself was evicted:

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Comments

[ggaitherii]

I will answer whosyourdaddy's question. I don't jump all over Obama because of TARP because of the Bush "fear machine". Who did not think that our economy was about to topple and we would somehow become a second-rate nation. McCain "suspended" his campaign to run to Washington for this. Surely it demanded immediate action!! Obama, along with the majority of Congress succumbed to the usual knee jerk reaction when doom and gloom is forecasted. DO SOMETHING, FOR DOING NOTHING COULD BE MORE COSTLY!!!! I see a much more measured approach now that Obama is actually in charge. We need the banks since we have become a credit based society. I guess you missed the homeowner's bill Obama gave a speech on. I am not for saving everyone who loses a home. Buyer responsibility comes in somewhere. Just like I am not for bailing out banks who retain the management that ran it into the ground. I am for getting behind the leader of our nation and giving him the time and tools to get this fixed. Those tools would be new people in the Congress willing to do what it takes for America to move forward. Not ideologues who want to position themselves for re-election.

[SILVANUS]

If we were conscious beings, we would have never even allowed a concept such as 'homelessness' to become accepted. That's not weakness; it's setting a standard for humanity.

[hippie chucker]

I would think consciousness on the part of people who bought more homes than they could afford would be a better start for humanity. If the 20% down rule were still in effect, would we be seeing massive foreclosures?
No.
Life starts with self responsibility. Society functions only when individuals commit to self responsibility.
Annual savings rate before WW2 was 12%. Meaning that the AVERAGE family saved 12% of what they made. Today....not so much.

[BruceHNV]

And who drove that trend?

[SILVANUS]

I shrugged on a San Francisco street the night they announced Reagan as president before I could even cast my ballot (they finally changed that misstep).

The rain from THAT cloud -- and all the greedy little American Psychos-in-training who had been disco-dancing neo-hippies the week before shaking to "I Want Your Love", and now readying to dial in their 'Dallas' and 'Dynasty' (Die-nasty?) fantasies -- continues.

"Oh great," she whispered to her friend, "that condo's gonna be a great investment with the new government. I'm ditching this gig at Levi-Strauss for the Embarcadero Tower. Have you read the new book "Power"? Yes, non-fiction. It's great! Fois grae... I love it!"

[whosyourdaddy]

Jeez! Seems that question of mine killed this blog.
Sorry. Though I'd sure have liked an answer.

[TequilaMockingbird]

I will answer you Daddy..

We are raising hell at the Obama Admin... but here's the thing.. You are pretending that there is actually a solution that someone could implement at this moment to stop a Con 10 years in the making.. or that Bank balance sheets aren't a convoluted mess and that there is a simple way to contact individuals in danger and immediately decide what remedies would or could be applicable.. Is it because they lost their job? Are they in foreclosure because of illness? and Employers like AIG are contractually bound and this must be handled delicately..

There is only one remedy with 2 parts but Corporate America would never go for it and wouldn't allow it.. and that is to immediately re- institute the living wage. Part 2 would be to abolish the Health Insurance Industry and provide all Americans with Quality Comprehensive Health Care...

PS. Thank You for not shopping at Wal Mart.

[BruceHNV]

You forgot part 3 - a temporary nationalization of the entire banking industry - to be re-sold into private hands when the dust settles.

[whosyourdaddy]

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo?
Why aren't you raising hell with the Obama administration?

[stargazer13]

that would be like spanking your second child because his older brother did some thing wrong
you get my drift

[whosyourdaddy]

No, I don't get what you're saying at all.
Obama decides, right now, who gets the billions.
He's chosen to give it to banks and leave these people out in the cold.
Why?
And why do you tolerate it and make excuses?

[BruceHNV]

It's bitter medicine, but it's the right medicine. I hate it like hell, but I my mind overrrules my spleen.

That we're getting help finally, good. That small businesses like mine are getting help finally, good. That we also have to shore up the banks, bad - but necessary. I hate that we've de-regulated the industry so massively that a) they've been allowed to consolidate until they are "too big to fail" and b) people who one knows going in will take every inch they are given, and then some, to enrich themselves at the expense of any and all others, have been given all the rope they need to hang us all.

So, so far the administration is taking the appropriate steps. I'd rather see them all drown in their own gold-plated bidets, but that unfortunately is not an option.

[FreezePop]

This is the saddest thing I have ever seen. My first instinct is not to place blame, but to hope that each and every one of these families finf some stability and peace of mind, and that their children can somehow overcome these traumatic events.

My second thought is that if there is blame to be placed, it rests squarely on the shoulders of Bush, his party, their financial policies, and their willingness to aid and abet financial services companies interest in greed and profit over the well-being of the American citizen, just like some third world country.

I hope that George Bush and his henchmen all see this video and watch it at least 3x. They should hang their heads in shame over what they have done to America. They have literally brought this country to its knees. And not one word of apology or acknowledgement. They should all be ashamed. And very, very, sorry.

[Tellecter]

Whosyourdaddy is right on. Everything in this world is not Bush's fault.

Where is the responsibility of self here. Sure everyone can have a rough time -- but it isn't the banks fault for offering multiple mortgage options for people. It is the person getting the mortgage to make the right decision for themselves. If balloon, ARM, or fixed is available -- it is not the bank to tell you what to take. It is your responsibility to tell the bank what you will take.

The left tries to find blame for everyone but the parties that actually should get the blame. Are the stories tragic -- yes -- but that doesn't mean the people aren't at fault.

These situations have nothing to do with Bush -- the story could have easily played out under Clinton. ARMs are ARMs -- and after 1,3,5 or 7 years they become ADJUSTABLE -- thus their name. When that happens -- your mortgage becomes ADJUSTABLE. That is how they work. Bush had nothing to do with their poor decisions.

[coultersnemesis]

umm...i agree it isn't all bush's fault; but the fault of the ideology he represents and supports. Yes, ARMs are ARMs; but the point is that quite frankly, as you know, standards were laxed and there has been outright deception and fraud on the part of the banks in selling unqualified people these mortgages, plain and simple. people trust the 'professionals' to use their digression, huge mistake. The regulators failed and willfully turned a blind eye to the growing problems in the mortgage industry, as an interesting letter from, yep, Sptizer in the NYT before his disgraced fall notes that he tried to crack down, but was continuously hampered by Bush appointed hacks. If the banks truly cared about being socially responsible to these communities hard hit they would work with the families on reducing terms..that is capitalism that works for all, as if the rates were reduced the families can continue to make payments and the can continue doing business with the banks..i dont get it..doesnt the bank lose in a fire-sale of the house during foreclosure, anyway?

[Arithrianos]

that might be true for a few of the subprime loans, but most of the loans were produced not by banks, which were regulated, but by mortgage brokers who has no incentive to loan to people who could pay them back, but HUGE incentive to loan to as many as fast as they could. Also AIG's failure was directly due to them selling credit defalt swaps without having to have the reserves set aside to pay them off if they came due, that is all the Republicans fault.

[hippie chucker]

I went for a mortgage during the real estate boom. There was an entire page that I had to sign, (along with everyone else who gets a mortgage) that said I understood rates were variable, and could go up.

How is that the fault of Bush?

If you bought a variable rate car loan, and the loan rate increased, how is that the President's fault?

[BruceHNV]

Escalating loans, believe it or not, are only a small portion of the problem.

Massive job losses, frozen credit, evaporation of value in equity and equities and stocks, etc. There are at least hundreds of thousands, probably millions of people whose new payments would be no problem if there were still a housing market, a credit market, and/or if they had a job.

[JonRaymond]

Freedom. Capitalism. Friedmanism. Welcome to America.

[hippie chucker]

How does capitalism have ANYTHING to do with people getting evicted from their homes?
You don't understand that foreclosure is a failure to pay basic housing bills?
Milton Friedman would hardly agree that saving nothing, and buying more house than you could afford is prudent.

[BruceHNV]

Capitalism, unbound, is what made the option ARMs and similar notes a) possible, b) the preferred lending vehicle of banks, c) the basis of fraudulent securities, and d) the basis of Credit Default Swaps, the trigger mechanism which blew the whole thing up.

No "system of making money on the idea of money," and none of the above. Capitalism. See?

[wbugar]

I agree with hippie. Sure, foreclosure is painful, but they signed a contract. You're supposed to know what's in the contract. If not, then what are you doing buying a house?
Why should the neighbors be responsible for the mortgage?
Isn't that socialism?
Bought my first house in 87, put like 40% down, 9.75%.
I knew what I signed, didn't cry about it, took my chances with the job retention, wasn't expecting my neighbors to bail me out.

[whosyourdaddy]

I am astounded that none of you who are so upset about this are willing to confront it head on.
I keep reading about who's to blame, over and over.
I keep reading that Obama didn't make this mess.
True.... fair enough.

However, if you are truly upset about it and truly believe the banks are mostly at fault, why are you not up in arms that Obama is giving billions to the banks and not a dime to any mortgage holder that's lost his job or is behind in their payments?

I read so many comments here about how progressives, unlike "repugs" are capable of critical thinking and reasoned thought.

So what's up with this?

[stargazer13]

now your thinking but the bail out started before Obama and the American people were against it and the rep,s and senators did not listen and did in there great wisdom what they were told or thought was the right thing and now you know why my new ok old motto is in the fall fire them all

[whosyourdaddy]

What are you implying? I was thinking before.
Obama and Pelosi wrote this bill and are writing another just like it, right now.
What are you going to do about it?

[Tellecter]

Forgive me for being the bad guy here -- but what ever happened to living within our means. That was a pretty nice house that first family was evicted from -- and though tragic -- if when fully back to work ,he still can't afford the budget hotel -- some part of the story is missing.

Also -- they get evicted -- but the daughter has a $400 Wii? The car they were driving was also pretty new as well. Maybe living within our means doesn't include such expenses.

[stargazer13]

people rush to judgment

like there,s a fire to put out

it amazes me to no end you would think these people that are losing there homes are the worse people on earth

by some of the posts here kinda like your ,s

like if you own a wii that makes you a bad person gee whiz and that man your talking about got hit by a car for gods sake and was injured severe enough to keep him out of work for seven months

and you don,t mention this fact at all you just focus on the little girls wii grow up and get real this could happen to any one of us and we all would be hard pressed to make all our bills for 3mo,s let alone seven with no money coming in .

just show ,s that some here have no compassion for there fellow man I mean none whats so ever

[whosyourdaddy]

"it amazes me to no end you would think these people that are losing there homes are the worse people on earth"

Could you cut and paste that or something? I didn't see where he said or even implied that.

[TexanDanielle]

I am very sympathetic to these situations too, and the people that ARM's did take advantage of. We can't deny that people do routinely spend out of their means. Hasn't the government ben encouraging that thought...spend, spend, spend...it's good for the economy. So, it's a great macroeconomic activity, with for specific famililes it doesn't work so well. I think the second family, where the Dad was a valet, that if felt like a correction. That maybe they should have been living an a two bedroom apartment to begin with, if they were living within their means? I think there is enough blame to spread around. The banks, the people who streched themselves to thin, deregulations, etc.

I thought it was strange to see a a Wii (we have not purchased one due to the cost yet), an computer, and the little girl on a cell phone in this story. I couldn't be completely sympathetic, and trust me, I wanted to be. My heart really aches for the people who HAVE lived within their means, lost their job that they worked hard at all their lives (I know of a manager at Dell who worked their 325 years and was just laid off) and are struggling. People who have to declare bankruptcy because of medical conditions (and they had insurance.) I wish this report could have focused on some cases like those.

[TexanDanielle]

(Hopefully less typos than above comment I made.)

I am very sympathetic to these situations and towards the people that ARM's did take advantage of. We can't deny that people do routinely spend out of their means. Has the government not encouraged the concept of, “spend, spend, spend...it's good for the economy?” So, it's a great macroeconomic activity. Conversely though, for specific families it doesn't work so well. They need to save more. I think the second family, where the Dad was a valet, felt like a correction. That maybe they should have been living a two bedroom apartment to begin with, if they were living within their means? It was still heart wrenching bear witness too. I think there is enough blame to spread around. The banks, the people who stretch themselves to thin, deregulations, etc.

I thought it was strange to see a Wii (we have not purchased one due to the cost yet), an computer, and the little girl on a cell phone in this story. I couldn't be completely sympathetic, and trust me, I wanted to be. I do.

My heart really aches for the people who HAVE lived within their means, lost their jobs that they worked hard at all their and are struggling; the people who have to declare bankruptcy because of medical conditions (and they had insurance.). I know of a manager at Dell who worked there 25 years and was just laid off.

[BruceHNV]

So's ya know, valets in Vegas make A TON of money. Very little would be beyond their means. If they can work.

[etcetc]

maybe her parents didn't buy her the Wii. I have coach purses, david yurman rings, gucci sunglasses, and all those things were gifts. I didn't buy them. I also just bought a luxury SUV for the same payment price I had a subaru for. i just got a good deal. you can't judge people y what they have.

[fscuttle]

I feel really bad for some of these people.However I believe a lot of people used home equity to sustain a standard of living they could not afford.The fact that home prices have dropped has nothing to do with your ability to make your payments.I think a lot of people are lying when they say they didnt know thier rates were adjustable.They wanted the money and they thought real estate would go up forever.If you told someone in 2004 that you had no mortgage on your house they looked at you like you were from Mars!"Why dont you get a home equity loan?"I got 4 letters and phone calls per day from lenders.Every other tv commercial was for home equity loans.Yes the lenders were agressive but in the end you are responsible for the decisions you make.I have no sympathy for someone who went broke keeping up with the Jones's.

[baseballmom]

Amen. I'm home during the day and often have HGTV on. Would you believe that they are STILL running shows that involve having a real estate agent look at a house and assess its value so the homeowners can tap their equity to upgrade a bathroom or kitchen or something?

[Eowyn]

How do you sleep at night Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney?

You both should be ashamed for what you've done to this country.

[whosyourdaddy]

Have you written a letter to Obama to ask why he is helping the evil banks and ignoring the plight of the dispossessed?

[stargazer13]

sounds like you got that one covered I ,ll write congress though

[stargazer13]

you are so kind because if I did some investigating and found them culpable they would be in the public square and it would not be a speaking event

[hmargret]

the police shouldn't be enforcing a foreclosure. can those banks even prove they own the home?
what will happen when 50 million homes foreclose?

[whosyourdaddy]

The cops are enforcing trespassing laws.
They can't get a cop to do it unless they can prove ownership.

There will be 50 million buyers.

[wolfgangmo]

Myopic issues aside, there will NOT be 50 milliion buyers.

Most of the property is being bought up by "vulture" funds, most, like the division B of A set up to buy properties, are getting houses for pennies on the dollar. They are even buying up B of A properties and getting first crack at them before they hit the market.

And the other mortgage companies are not selling these homes to individuals, they are bundling them for their buddy bankers to buy up in large lots. Even the mod can't compete with this kind of criminal.

We are getting fleeced and you can't even tell that your pants are around your ankles.

[SILVANUS]

Find me the buyers. Are they coming over from India maybe? China?

[BruceHNV]

"Prove" in these cases is an affidavit. The companies do not have to produce paper unless the judge or the homeowne'rs lawyer asks for it in open court.

[babyboomerorig]

Wasn't it Rick Santelli who called those who have lost their jobs and homes "losers"?

This is the one of the saddest days in a person's life. You've worked hard, sometimes 2 jobs, to take care of your family and then, some policeman knocks on your door and tells you to get out.

We've been through this, but because of a work injury and my having to stop working to care for my husband. We weren't losers....we worked all our lives, raised 5 children to be responsible adults and certainly didn't want or expect to lose everything we ever had because of a brain injury.

It can happen to anyone.

[stargazer13]

Thank you for saying that

[whosyourdaddy]

ditto.

[ZimboChick]

ditto

[wolfgangmo]

We need single payer health care NOW.

[Montgriz]

so, where were your children when you needed help? Did you homestead your property? File Chapter 7? Something doesn't add up with your post....you had no insurance? Things like this happen but your story seems to be an attempt to justify your mistakes....

[therrin123]

It's a very sad state of affairs. I think that the most difficult part is that the blame doesn't lie on one particular person or company. We're ALL guilty of getting greedy. That goes for the government, the banks and yes, the consumers. Each instance of a foreclosure has its own individual set of circumstances, but the bottom line is that it's a terribly sad thing to see a family evicted from their homes. There are no winners here.

[stargazer13]

I call it down right uncivilized

[Montgriz]

The irony of all this is that illegal immigrants are allowed to live anywhere they choose and in some parts of the country are subsidized.......maybe our poor should move to Mexico where they can succeed...

[stargazer13]

really ! you think !

[whosyourdaddy]

I have done some not entirely insignificant research on this very same subject. In fact I have given great thought to deporting myself and spouse to south central Mexico, though my wife has grave reservations and refuses to discuss it.
Anyway, healthcare in Mexico runs approximately $250 per year for a couple and a couple can live quite well, with a cook and gardener for less than $13K per year.
I think it's a very attractive proposition, notwithstanding drug lords and random beheadings.

[JonRaymond]

Please do. Lead the way. Show us how it's done. Be an example not just a blowhard.

[ZimboChick]

u always find one loose cannon

[therrin123]

Montgriz, you almost make it sound like subsidized housing is some sort of social paradise where illegal immigrants enjoy luxuries that most of Americans only dream about. I would wager than anyone living in subsidized housing would gladly move into a home of their own if given the opportunity. Also, I don't really see how relevant the subject of illegal immigration is to the housing crisis. It sounds to me like the old "Bill O'Reilly strategy" of bringing up illegal immigration on any possible talking point. That act is tired.

Oh, and by the way, feeling the need to bring up your superior financial status only makes you look really, really shallow and insecure. FYI.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

Very Sad!!! I long for the day that we stop calling people losers because they no longer have a place to lay their head especially when they have children. Look, I was in the banking industry for more than a decade until i was recently laid off. I will say that people came in looking for loans that they could afford to do minor repairs or to pay medical expenses and other things. However, there is a consorted effort to tell home owners they can afford more than they really can. If a homeowner comes in for a loan for lets say 15k we were trained to persuade homeowners to take out more, more and more!!!! The sad thing is they trust their banks to tell them what they can afford and what they cannot!!!! I am so glad I'm out of that business!!! As a manager I could have made more money however, I looked for smaller loans to make my quota than attempt to encourage bad decisions. I just hope that the individuals that are criticizing /judging the homeowner are using just as much venom towards the institutions that recklessly encouraged bad behavior.

[stargazer13]

my friend at the bank said same thing it bothered her too !and like you she no longer works there !

hope you get another job soon

[dct1999]

This is one of the most important posts.

Why do you think so many people naively trusted bankers?

[stargazer13]

the bank s have always won so I would call it conditioning at it best

[Montgriz]

I don't know which bank you were referring to, but there used to be a ratio of earnings to loan....When people began treating property like investments and credit cards, then it was all over.....I am a very successful real estate agent who retired in 88 AFTER advising a young couple that their willingness to buy a 2 bedroom house for over $1,400,000.00 with just over 10K down was a recipe for disaster for them. They signed anyway after insulting me as an "old fossil"...today, I am comfortably retired, free of debt, and travel whenever and whereever I want. They on the other hand, lost that house and last I heard had moved back to some lost town in the South....divorced and broke.....so, blaming the banks and all is not quite the answer.. No one told people to sign for payments they KNEW, or should have known, were out of their ability to pay......

[DnDCfromChi-town]

I’m not solely blaming the banks however; I don't think we should blame the homeowners solely either. In my opinion they are equally responsible. I witnessed horrible changes over the years because of deregulation. I will also say that most people are not financially educated. They trust people who are advising them, who are benefiting from how much consumers buy and/or spend! Take realtors for example, most show more house then their clients can afford because they are straight commission and they get paid based off of what consumers purchase. I commend you for what you attempted to do for that couple however, that isn’t the case for most straight commission people.

[FdeBear]

Where do you pay a million and a half dollars for a TWO bedroom house? Manhattan?

[baseballmom]

I once went in for a business checking account for a small consulting business I operated out of my home. When the bank officer offered me a business loan, I said no, thanks, I don't need one. I don't blame that bank officer any more than the retail salesperson who tries to "upsell" or the retail web site that offers additional products that others who bought the same product have purchased. If you don't need it, don't buy it!