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Foreclosures Meet Counter Force

Mary Rabon(L), Shirley Dobbins (R) argue for shelving of foreclosures.
photo by dan verbeck.(click to enlarge)
Mary Rabon(L), Shirley Dobbins (R) argue for shelving of foreclosures.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-928544.mp3

Kansas City, MO – Saving endangered neighborhoods and mortgage-embattled dwellers advanced on multiple fronts in Kansas City.

With one in every 650 Missouri homeowners facing foreclosure, Mayor Mark Funkhouser joined the organization Communities Creating Opportunities to ask the Missouri Attorney General to call a temporary moratorium on foreclosures.

Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser says it will allow time to negotiate between banks and borrowers.

One bank today donated 23 foreclosed houses to the city and money to help rehab them. Wells Fargo's money will meet state funds for weatherization.

Kelvin Simmons directs administration for the state.

"We were able to assist in bringing down $4.5 million for this effort," said Simmons.

A pool of money from federal, state and local sources will rehab houses in the Ivanhoe Neighborhood

CORRECTION: A broadcast version of this story that ran on the morning of October 12, 2010 stated money to weatherize homes in the Green Impact Zone came from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The money was guaranteed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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