HOW TO SOLVE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS

This plan addresses the current economic conditions (crisis) that is facing communities all across our nation. People need a place to live and an income to live on. This plan would provide for both.

There is an ever increasing number of foreclosures, bank owned, vacant properties. These properties need to be occupied, repaired and maintained. Vacant, foreclosed properties bring down property values. They pose a threat to the general health and well being of the community. These properties are targets/magnets for crime and vandalism.

Unemployment and foreclosures go hand in hand. The ripple effect that is being caused by the ever-changing financial down turn of this economy is devastating and at this point there is no relief in sight. Job lay-offs are across the board, even more in the construction trades.

Unemployment insurance is a temporary fix at best. Public assistance is a trap. Similar to Habitat for Humanity, this plan offers an opportunity. It is not a free ride. It requires a major commitment. This is not a hand out. It is a hand up. This is not a job. It is business opportunity.

As an owner/contractor, each individual would get a house to fix up. Additional properties could be acquired under a company or corp. allowing each family the ability to take on 2 to 3 homes at the same time. They would divide time between them so that each of these properties would be occupied. It will then be the owner/contractor's responsibility to watch, secure, repair and maintain their properties.

Most of these houses will require improvements. Loans will be taken out against the equity to do so. There will be guidelines and oversight to ensure that all repairs are completed in a timely manner. Other creative types of loans could be developed. Loans similar to what is available to seniors now in the form of a reverse mortgage could be made available. These types of loans could be structured so that they could be added to the end of the loan. The terms of these loans could be lengthened as well to help get the real estate market out of it's current slump. When the house sells, the loans are paid off. A property can be sold or rented. If the house is sold, the money must then be reinvested.

Skills can be pooled. People of all trades, talents, levels of skill and experience are needed. Everyone has basic skills such as; painting, cleaning, maintaining landscaping, child care or cooking. This is about strengthening the community as a whole. It's about building communities to make them strong, valuable and whole again.

All building materials, supplies, tools and even food will be purchased as a co-operative in order to share and save on costs. Vehicles could be purchased through auctions. Vacant houses have to look occupied with vehicles parked in the driveways, security systems in place and timers on lighting and sprinklers. All houses must be set up and staged, ready for sale. Furniture could be purchased at thrift stores and consignment stores.

As a community, everyone would be enrolled in the group health insurance plan and would be responsible for paying their own premiums through a fund that would come from the equity. They will also be individually responsible for social security/retirement benefits, since everyone involved will be a small business owner. This creates an entirely new work ethic that is strictly performance based. What you achieve is solely determined by what you are willing to contribute.

Project management - Chain of command starts with each individual property. From there, a community organizer, district organizer, and on up the chain of command.

Funding would be initially be provided through Government grants and subsidies until the home values increase. This would not replace current, traditional means of employment, but would be a valuable option for people that choose it. As the plan grows, the value of the program will in turn increase the value of the homes involved.

As citizens, we all have a stake in the future of this country. The choice is ours. We can choose to be passive and take the easy way out and allow the government and financial institutions will make the decisions in our best interests. We can look at what has happened in recent events to know that, we are fooling ourselves if we believe that will be the case. Or, we can choose to finally take charge of our own future.