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Helping others in housing trouble while needing help

Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune

Taalibah As-Siddiq said she has to move from her Minneapolis home in about two months because of foreclosure “unless a miracle happens.” But the ACORN member still hit the streets Saturday to offer assistance and rally support for a bill at the Legislature. As-Siddiq also spoke at the community organizing group’s Foreclosure Day of Action rally in Minneapolis.

Last update: March 1, 2008 - 10:27 PM

Taalibah As-Siddiq said Saturday she is about to lose her home in Minneapolis to foreclosure "unless a miracle happens -- and I believe in the power of positive intentions."

After a rally Saturday in north Minneapolis with Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and other politicians, As-Siddiq and other members of the community organizing group ACORN went door to door offering help to others behind in mortgage payments. They also urged support for a bill before the Legislature that would allow people facing foreclosure one year during which their payments would be reduced while they tried to renegotiate mortgages.

"After I lost my job, things just went bad and my lender refused to talk with me," said As-Siddiq, who must move in about two months. But her nephew Tracy White said he got help from advocates when he ran into mortgage problems and his lender agreed to reduce his interest rate from 10.9 percent to 5.7 percent.

ACORN and the Minneapolis Urban League offer financial counseling at the Urban League office, 2100 Plymouth Av. N., 612-827-9299.

WARREN WOLFE