Kicked Out of Their Homes, Kicking and Screaming

Foreclosure crisis reaches boiling point in Miami's Liberty City

The ugly side of South Florida's foreclosure crisis surfaced in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood Tuesday morning.

Two apartment buildings were foreclosed on, leading to two people arrested and a crowd of screaming residents and activists spilling into the streets.

“They say I'm starting a riot,” said resident Ashaundre Young, as police led her away in handcuffs. “It’s because I got the loudest voice,” she yelled.

Miami activist Max Rameau was the second arrest.

“The police are working for the banks, not the people,” he said.

Two buildings are in foreclosure: 820 Northwest 70th Street and 840 Northwest 70th Street.

Tuesday morning, a man who said he was working with a bank evicted three families in the residences. Several Miami police officers escorted him on to the properties, where he and two helpers removed furniture then boarded up the units.

Residents say banking giant JP Morgan Chase holds the mortgage. Tenants admit they haven't been paying rent since the beginning of the year, claiming that when they made rent payments last year, the manager pocketed the money instead of paying the mortgage.

“I think it's very disloyal for the landlord to take my money and do other things with it besides what he was supposed,” said evicted resident Brandy Young.

A representative from JP Morgan Chase told NBC Miami she has no records of those buildings, and therefore she couldn't comment on the matter.

In this current economic climate, no doubt, foreclosures will continue. And activists say they’ll keep fighting.

Contact Us