UD students help people keep homes

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Programs and requirements change and the paperwork might be enough to overwhelm you, but you need to know there is help available in our community when you face foreclosure.  You don't have to feel squeezed out by a big-name lender.
      
Just a couple of years ago Dayton was known for a high  foreclosure rate. Lost jobs and vacant houses were part of the landscape.  They still are, but more people are able to keep their homes because of  University of Dayton law students like Patrick Kindt and Geeta Darubra.

They volunteer so people who can't afford legal counsel have some representation when it's time to talk with lenders and their attorneys.  They can help negotiate a payment plan for instance.  

Geeta Darubra said, "My focus was to let the judge and opposing counsel know that my client is willing and able to do the terms agreed upon and hopefully things will resolve without having to go into litigation."

Patrick Kindit said, "Only being able to talk to her once I can really tell just having someone for her to talk to helps her a lot and with the addition of legal advice it's a really good feeling to be there for someone."

You might wonder how students can go head-to-head with licensed attorneys. The Ohio Supreme Court allows for it for students in their last year of law school as long as they're supervised.

Andrea Seielstad is their supervisor.  "When you represent a client it suddenly isn't about you anymore and you have to be calm and articulate and it moves the student to a higher level, Seielstad said.

Seielstad said about a year ago Miami Valley Fair Housing approached the law clinic at UD where students get hands-on experience because there were so many people about to lose their homes who needed legal help. The students do not get paid, but there are rewards.

Jeremy Sedelmeyer is a graduate who put it this way, "It's kind of exciting to see how it unfolded cause when it comes on your desk and you see foreclosure you worry."

Law student Sia Zois said, "To be faced with losing your home and having to fill out all this paperwork made people nervous so to let them know that I was there and I was standing next to them,helping them do that was really rewarding."

Darurbra summed it up, "Lawyers are preceived as being mean bullies, but that's not true. I think everyone has a heart even lawyers and they'll help out."

You might be eligible for thousands of dollars in federal assistance based on an agreement with mortgage servicers.  If you feel you were done wrong by your servicer in 2009 or 2010 call 888-952-9105 to find out more.