I saw this one in yesterday’s North County Gazette.
“Mortgage Meltdown spurs the Christmas Spirit”
North County Gazette. Dec 25, 2008
Sarah Brightlawn
Mortgage industry professional Steve Hartman is putting his industry experience to a good cause, helping struggling homeowners stay in their homes.
With the housing downturn impacting so many area homeowners, we are seeing increasing numbers falling behind and risk going into foreclosure.
Pulling up to the parking lot to the “Hope Now Center” in his late model new Lexus, Steve with is well coifed hair and Italian suit, is a picture of confidence. He states “I’m here to help, keep hope alive!” The Hope Now Center is a private/public partnership touted by the current administration as the model to save homeowners from foreclosure.
Steve Hartman seems a bit out of place in the run-down store front in a half-vacant strip mall in Vista. “I did very well the last few years, this is my way of giving back”. He goes on to say “these people just got in over their heads, alot of them are poorly educated and don’t understand finance. Also, I think we all went a bit overboard during the housing run-up”. He again states, “I’m here to help, keep hope alive”.
The center is packed with downtrodden, sober individuals sitting on folding chairs, shoulder to shoulder in the chilly waiting room. Mary, who declined to give her last name is one of the ones near the back of the line, she is frustrated, “They lied to us then and will lie again”, she kept muttering it over and over again.
After about 30 minutes, Steve Hartman strides out of the center. “I feel great!, I know that in my little way I helped out.”
This one brought a tear to my eyes. I get so sentimental during Christmas. If only all of us could give so much to help our fellow man. I guess the first step is always the hardest.
This one brought a tear to my eyes. I get so sentimental during Christmas. If only all of us could give so much to help our fellow man. I guess the first step is always the hardest.
This one brought a tear to my eyes. I get so sentimental during Christmas. If only all of us could give so much to help our fellow man. I guess the first step is always the hardest.
This one brought a tear to my eyes. I get so sentimental during Christmas. If only all of us could give so much to help our fellow man. I guess the first step is always the hardest.
This one brought a tear to my eyes. I get so sentimental during Christmas. If only all of us could give so much to help our fellow man. I guess the first step is always the hardest.
.
