Minneapolis, MN – Jaymie Kelly, a 30-year homeowner who faces imminent eviction at the hands of Freddie Mac, rallied with 40 neighbors at the U.S. Attorney's office here, Oct. 3, demanding a shutdown of federally financed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac evictions – which continue during the government shutdown as an ‘essential service.’

When Homeland Security told Kelly no one from the Attorney's office could accept her petitions as a result of the shutdown, her supporters proceeded to decorate the outside of the federal building with petition signatures.

“As aid to affordable housing is cut off, and our public officials won't meet with us, Freddie Mac still thinks my eviction is an 'essential service,'” said Kelly, who is fighting in an eviction defense campaign with Occupy Homes MN. “I have already paid for my home five times, but JPMorgan Chase and Freddie Mac have refused to negotiate with me. Freddie Mac must immediately shut down its evictions until it has a permanent director in place willing to work with homeowners like me. The government's inaction could cost me my home of 30 years. But I am not leaving,and my community stands with me.”

Kelly’s supporters then marched over to City Hall to demand Sheriff Stanek not use public resources to evict her. Sheriffs are expected to attempt to evict Kelly sometime in the next week. Her community is prepared to resist any attempt to evict her.

In July, 75 community members drove off 30 sheriffs attempting to evict Kelly’s neighbor, Sergio Ceballos. Two months later, Ceballos remains in his home and is now in negotiation with JPMorgan Chase.

#Minneapolis #MinneapolisMN #HousingStruggles #Minnesota #JPMorganChaseBank #HouseStruggles

Minneapolis, MN – About 250 community members gathered in the front yard of the Ceballos home, July 29, for a concert and rally to show support for the Ceballos family. The family, with the help of community supporters, fended off an eviction attempt by 30 sheriff deputies sent by JPMorgan Chase July 24. They expect another eviction attempt at any time.

The concert marked the three-week anniversary of a round-the-clock occupation of the housemounted by housing justice group Occupy Homes Minnesota. When sheriffs came to evict July 24, more than 75 home defenders gathered in half an hour and easily moved back into the house. Occupy Homes MN has pledged to defend the home until Chase Bank negotiates with the Ceballos family.

The concert included performances by internationally known hip hop artist Brother Ali, as well as local rapper Haphduzn. City Councilmember Elizabeth Glidden and State Representative Ray Dehn also spoke in support of the eviction defense.

Sergio Ceballos, who has lived in his house for 13 years with his family, asked JPMorgan Chase Bank for a loan modification in 2010 after a divorce halved the family’s income. Chase told the Ceballos family they were considering them for a loan modification, but then filed for eviction at the same time. This process is known as dual tracking and is illegal under the national mortgage settlement.

Brother Ali voiced his full support for the occupation. “This really does make a difference,” he said to the crowd. “The narrative they’ve built around working class people is that they’re irresponsible, that they’re lazy – that they don’t fight back. This is us taking control of the narrative.”

#MinneapolisMN #HousingStruggles #OccupyHomes #BrotherAli #CommunityActivism #CeballosFamily #OccupyHomesMinnesota #JPMorganChaseBank #Banks