While Elkhart has a reputation as an economic bellwether for the nation, it was Indiana that played the canary in the coalmine when it came to the foreclosure crisis.
"Indiana had a foreclosure problem for quite a while," said John Tatom, research director of the Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University's College of Business. "… "Ohio and Indiana were leading the country back around 2000 and 2001 and what happened was the rest of the world caught up."
Why Ohio and Indiana?
"Low prices, relatively high incomes and credit availability, so a lot of people were able to qualify (for mortgages)," said Tatom. "The problem is, they're in the more volatile manufacturing sector" – meaning they're more likely than other workers to be laid off and stop making payments.
In other words, when you couple the continuing exodus of U.S. manufacturing jobs with a sharp downturn in the RV industry -- Elkhart's economic mainstay – you have trouble with a capital "T," right here in this river city.
As msnbc.com's Mike Stuckey reports today in The Elkhart Project, the worsening unemployment picture in Elkhart County is adding to the pace of foreclosures, and many real estate brokers and elected officials fear the problem will get worse before it gets better.
Elkhart Truth reporter Tim Vandenack chronicled another aspect of the crisis – the extended family domicile – in this report last week.
Tatom said that while the subprime loans propelled Indiana to the top of the foreclosure chart, the frighteningly high jobless rate in Elkhart County – 18 percent in February, and even higher in Elkhart city – unemployment is adding to the problem.
That jibes with what Amy Kennedy and her home ownership team at the LaCasa nonprofit agency are seeing in their foreclosure prevention counseling service.
"First it was subprime and now we're just seeing regular hard-working people who have lost their home," said Kennedy, who administers the program that once was mainly focused on advising and educating first-time home buyers.
Eddie Sauceda, one of two counselors now working nearly full-time on foreclosure prevention, said that his clients come from all walks of life and include the formerly affluent.
"It used to be we were dealing with adjustable mortgages and looking at payment shock when the interest rates reset," he said. "Now it's people with a wonderful FHA loan who can't make a payment, period. … I've got a couple from the Fort Wayne area, where she is a professor and he's a physician. I've got an RV plant manager who was making a six-figure income a year ago."
The spreading pool of the unemployed is obviously a big issue everywhere in this deep recession. Check out he Adversity Index, a measurement of the economic health of 381 U.S. metro areas and all 50 states developed jointly by msnbc.com and Moody's Economy, for details about your area.
And, as always, share your thoughts about what's going on in your community and what needs to be done to stop the bleeding in the comment area below.
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Obama is clueless to come up with a solution.
Solution. Remove everyone from Congress and start fresh.
Stop blaming Obama for the problems that were there before he even took office! Why don't you blame good ole genius George if you need to point a finger. Not to mention, pointing all the fingers in the world isn't going to solve a damn thing. Grow up.
Our president & his administration have taken on a huge,huge series of problems that existed moths before the election.I commend the efforts & orgsnized manner that they've taken on all of the problems,economic,military & foreign policies.I have confidence realizing that these problems will take huge amounts of money,organization & time.
Regarless of whose falut it is, very very very few people have had any sort of assistance from the Government that allowed them to stay in their home. At the samd time, the Obama administration gave billions in aid to the banks. The same banks who are doing the foreclosures. As long as this continues, everyone loses.
I think that the majority of the people in charge are clueless. They would rather have they billions of dollars set aside for themselves and do what is "Politically right" but, is it "politically right when one day they are the low man on the todem pole and they don't have a house to call a home?
At least give him a chance!
If Obama is clueless. Then Bush was maladroit.
There are both inane.
Some forget that the last two years of George Bush we had a Democratic Congress (Congress is where spending bills start). Maybe we could quit pointing fingers and start spending less and saving more so that our kids and grandkids don't go through this same thing in the future.
And before democrates the republicans had control. Shoot George was there for 8 years. It takes that chevy a quarter mile before it goes 100 mph, and now u want that car at a complete stop in 2 feet. Doesn't work like that.
So what is the solution, Bill? Let us in on your answer. And then everyone else can blow holes in your ideas.
The solution is... The people that signed their name to an adjustable rate mortgage honor the contract they agreed to. The old adage is never sign anything without knowing what you are signing for. If they didn't know all the possible outcomes of an adjustable rate mortgage they should have never agreed to the contract.
How about your solution, or is that a family secret?
In my life time, Elkhart had Miles/Bayer, Band instruments, electronics, Mobile homes and double wides and a few RV's. The city had a diverse industry. Sad state of affairs now. I left at 18--44 years ago.
Brian, don't forget about Bendix and Studebaker in South Bend just down the road. I left South Bend in 1970 and it was growing nicely.
Doug--- 1970 was a mirage in South Bend, IN. Congressman Brademas managed to bring home enough pork to make things look OK. Those in the know, Associates, and banks, had left in the late 60's. Bendix was on the ropes, and Studebaker was long dead. So, government and the service industry were the only bright spots,------ for a minute. The downtown is now dominated by the hospital industry; and I don't mean research and development. The only families with security are union retirees ----- for the moment. So sad. It breaks my heart.
Bayer bailed.
Yeah Bill, we're waiting. Give us the answer!
The answer is "get rid of the current Congress" Thats where the problem is. You can change Presidents every year, and it will be the same.
Bill, you are right, NOBAMA is clueless, and maybe by this time next year, the on-the-job training will be completed. His own party will be his undoing, and I'll predict he will be a one term president.
But the problems will be the same mismanagement by Congress. The scary part is the legislatures that created the problem "Money for nothing, houses for free" are still in Congress AND THEY are the ones to fix it?
You nailed it - lets start with term limits, ending automatic government pensions for anyone in Congress who serves as little as one 2 year term, and putting them all on Medicare for health insurance....they will all be one-termers....
I have to agree with EVERYTHING you have said!! It's not the president - it's the stupid Congress that we have!! Everyone wants to blame things on Bush but what everyone forgets is that he was having to deal with what Clinton did and then we were attacked on 9/11. Can you imagine what kind of state this country would be in if Gore had been made president?! WE would be a third world country!!
We as a nation need to vote for new blood in Congress & get RID of the ones who have been there for too long! They have lost their perspectives on things & don't remember what it is like to be a regular person! I think it's about time they found out again.
I'm a former Elkhart resident also. We moved because my husband fell the call back to the military. Otherwise we would still be there also. I don't know that we would be doing as well as we are now but I can't say for sure. Elkhart will bounce back, they always do, it just might take some time.
Sure, get rid of the current Congress! You were given that chance last year and you fumbled it. We already have term limits. We elect representatives every two years and Senators every six years, so there are plenty of opportunities to change things. But people tend to elect our leaders based on single issues that affect few of us. They don't care about leadership; just those who can raise the most money and pander to the bottom feeders.
While those who made poor decisions about loans may have contributed to this mess, many of us who work hard and take responsibility for our finances are feeling the pain. The housing collapse is but a small part of the financial problem we face, which was caused by greedy, bloated bottom feeders who seem to float to the top thus smothering everyone below them.
BTW: Both the White House and Congress were controlled by Republicans for six years -- and they did nothing to head off or correct the looming, obvious problems. And for the last two years the Democrats had but a scant majority and were constantly blocked by the Nopublicans.
There are lots of Hispanics filling jobs in trades such as welders in this area. I don't know if they are legal or illegal, and probably the employers don't either. It was a common practice several years ago in the produce fields of California as well as other states for illegals to copy a legal immigrants social security card. Many illegals would use this card. I know of 1 case where a contractor got ih trouble with the IRS, because other contractors had less scruples, pocketing the deductions, and sending out with holding forms under an alias, with the legals name, who filed for a return of the full amount.
Report Suspicious Activity -1-866-DHS-2-ICE
Write this number down, and use it. If you know that Illegals are taking jobs report it.
All of the foriegn products look good to the American who can afford to purchase them, even the price of foriegn labor looked good to the American companies. Where has all the money gone that is supposed to keep the economic wheel turning in America--- to foriegn nations. Every nation and its people have a right to wealth, America became greedy and gave it all away. The song sung by the Ojays "Money, Money, Money" has all the facts right about American society. Listen to it.
No, everyone does NOT have the right to wealth. It is earned. That is entitlement thinking, and THAT is what got this country in trouble. The big shots were entitled to their wealth, even when they couldn't earn a dime for the companies they ran. People were entitled to have the American Dream, so they fudged like hell and got a loan for a home they otherwise couldn't afford. America isn't entitled to be the superpower, we had to earn it, and it looks like we've been squandering that too.
Elkhart weathered many a storm in my days there (about 40 years all told). The only solution is to let the economy heal itself. In these days of "protect me from me in spite of me" no one was ready for such a deep cut in the economy. Many different factors (greed, supply and demand, world and domestic unrest) have contributed to this extreme downturn. As was the case after 911, the downturn came at a time when it was just about time for the natural "seasonal" dowturn (especially in RV's) to hit in all industries. We have to stop forcing the issue and wait as we have before for people to get tired of being tired and loosen up the purse strings, buy what they want in spite of their situation and carry on. Consumerism is the major contributor to a turn around and unfortunately this one is bigger than anything since the depression, and is going to take more time. People got in debt getting whnat they WANTED once again instead of what they NEEDED to live and overbought and did not prepare for the rainy day that inevitably comes in cyclic economies. Hang it there folks. We will all come out of this for the better as we always have. Just take stock of your non-tangibles and be glad those are here to stay. To depend on the government to bail out our often self inflicted probloems is crazy. By the time their programs go into affect, we are often (as history will show) on the road back anyway due to our own doing.
Jim, your comments hold truth to my views about the economic cycle. I wish everyone would stop talking and start doing. America is built on hard work, not hand outs. WE WILL ALL COME OUT OF THIS.
Sorry should have spell checked.
I'm sorry but the article in the elkhart truth is about Mexicans who are here illegally. I don't feel sorry for people that come to this country sneaking over the border. I do feel sorry for the people that are here legally and are losing their homes. Try talking to your mortgage company and sometimes they will try to help. I got my mortgage down 100 bucks.
Really?? Blame the mexicans??? you think they havent been through what your going through?? you people are crazy blaming everything under the sun except yourselves. the economy is screwed up for a lot of reasons but dont put the blame on other peoples who are equally hardworking just because the color of there skin is different!!
I left in 73' as the Whitehall transfer to PR forced my father to move us to Philly. The malls were already eating away at the downtown area. Although I have never returned it is very sad to hear the news. I thought as a young man in Oak Manor we were very economically diverse with teachers, administrators, doctors, dentists, business owners. I guess the RV ties ran much deeper than it appeared at that time. It seems the flight has been going on for 39 years or so. I know you will come back we are after all Elk-Hart.
Hello! I BELIEVE THAT THE RV PROBLEM IS TWO PART. ONE IS THEY NEED A RV THAT IS NOT USING GASOLINE,BUT A ALTERNATIVE FUEL,POSIBLY HYDROGEN (WATER) . hONDA IS NOW BUILDING THIS TYPE VEHICLE IN CALIFORNIA. ALSO RVS ARE NOT A NECESSARY ITEM,SO WHEN THE ECONOMY SLIPS THEY ARE ONE OF THE FIRST TO FEEL THE PAIN. I would also like to comment on the manufactored homes,I own three of them,they do a good job on interior design,but they need to use a good window(energy type) and do a better job with there plumbing, use a mansfield toilet, instead of the cheap mexican crap.
There would be a lot less forecloseres if people could aford to heat them,and the plumbing would hold up.thank you william billing
There used to be a big railroad presence in Elkhart. Is it gone too? If you want to see a city that makes Elkhart look liveable have your reporter visit Anderson, Indiana. There you can see what auto industry ineptitude, union greed and eternal democratic political control did to what was once a nice sized city. I grew up there and things started to unravel in the early '70's. In fact, I believe GM told the city and GM employees to plan for a day when GM would be gone. City fathers and the union didn't believe it. GM left as they said they would and to this day there are still people waiting for GM to return.
There still is a big railroad presence in Elkhart. I'll be looking at what's going on in the railyard there in an upcoming post, so stay tuned.
It is simple go back to buying from your local's and supporting them first. If that means going to the near by farm and buying vegetables, beef, pork and going to the butcher and canning yourself the vegetables. Than driving out of the way to go to superwalmart and getting usually not very fresh food. The money will flow back into the economy through the farmer who will need the money for the farm and supplie then the money will trickle down hill. There use to be a time when we supported ourselves through our local economies. People got greedy and that went away. The auto industry will survive this maybe some bad companies will go away but then someone will develope a new car and a new company will be born. People stop blamming Congress and Obama, or even Bush. We did this to ourselves, cherrish your family, pray to your God for help, don't take out credit use hard earned cash. Don't be so petty that you can't work at a fast food resturant. One day soon the encomy will come back and you will get the type of job you really want. Again use hard earned cash, don't rely on the banking system it will fail you AGAIN!
Ed im sorry but all these people,didn't do this to themselves.companies that closed because they had no business,and had to lay off hard working people.Had no choice.People just don't have any money.We own a small business and I hope we can stay open and keep our employees working.Iam so sorry for all the people in Elkhart.Not all of these people where greedy.and lived beyond there means.I wish i could help them all.It makes me cry to hear all the stories,about kids living in cars and lining up for food.We all need to do something to help.But I don't know what to do.
epotb---- it was not just "union greed". Let us not overlook the greed at the top. Also, that "union greed" brought benefits to everyone. Do you really think that the little receptionist at the front desk would have any benefits if the union had not fought the battle.
The receptionist at our union belonged to the teamsters union not the Sprinkler fitters union.
Morris,
Do you actually believe that that little receptionist (as well as anyone else in the office area) was actually in the Union? Might want to use another example.
Morris --- the point is that when the unions got a benefit or pay raise, everyone else did also. Not necessarily at the same rate or level of benefit, but certainly more than they would have gotten under other circumstances.
All of this stems from investment banking. An industry that should be completely outlawed. These large investment houses for decades now with help from high ups in the reagan and Bush and even clinton regimes have manipulated the rules and left such gaping loop holes for quick money profits that only exist on paper and vanish if you don't put it off on someone else in time. with derivatives and short selling and repackaged bonds made to look like a viable investment... Actual companies that had money had it pillaged by deals they were told were as solid as treasury bonds. So they grasped and ever riskier investments in bad mortgages re-bundled to try and make there way out. But if your GE and laying off the very workers who's bad loans you just bought as an asset then how are you stemming the tide? No one is to blame for the problems of this country except the people who aren't educated enough to understand there rights are gone. I seriously think i might move to england. Or even cuba has a better standard of living then this dying monster of greed we call a country. We are all still under the notion we are a power house. The recent reactant's of every major power in the world to help us should show this is afault. The chinese the true beast is even tired of our dollar being the currency standard. They are screaming for a new world currency.... And for good reason I wouldn't want to invest a penny in this country. So why should anyone else? The markers this country has set based on the fact that recessions rise and fall and markets re-coop is based on the idea that the investors pulling the overall strings want to see the ship righted..... I think the writing on the wall is the dance is over and we all need to wake up.
You seriously need to do your homework a little more. Cuba??? You have people in jail for merely uttering the same words you have just done. Standard of living? The average weekly salary for a Bacardi employee in Cuba in 1956 was US$37.65. In 2005 the monthly average salary of a Cuban worker is the equivalent of US$10.00.
and yet in cuba i can walk into a hospital and give merely my name and birth date and be treated for whatever is wrong with me... if I have a place to live food on my table and my health is not a burden how am I not better off there then here? I know 5 911 volunteers that would disagree with you.
my entire point is humanity is not considered in our society. Greed is all that matters here.
Yes, if you are a foreigner with dollars to pay. Not if you are a Cuban National, you have to bring your own supplies, and beg and ask for the Medicines needed from someone outside of Cuba that can send them to you. I can tell you have never left America....travel a little. See the world, expand your horizons and learn. Do you know any Cubans in Cuba? Any Brazilians in Brazil? Any Mexicans living in Mexico?
This all has been coming on since the on-set of 9/11 when the government and corporate America took advantage of the American mindset for revenge to manipulate our country for personal gain. Osama Bin Laden made the statement that he knew he could never defeat us militarily, but that he would manipulate our greed and pride into a financial collapse of our economy. Wars on two fronts and the focus away from what was happening on our own soil during that time has led to this point in time.
Don't blame the union. The few benefits we have are thanks to the union efforts. As an industrialized civilized nation we are sorely lacking in benefits. Take a look at the health benefits, education benefits and vacation policy of European nations and Canada. Our ability to access easy credit has created our own problems, that coupled with the Greed of those taking in the huge salaries. Look at Madoff, look at AIG executives. I believe it was Upton Sinclair who said " The private control of credit is the modern form of slavery. "
My husband and I just moved to Elkhart a week ago from Virginia Beach, VA I have found that the people of Elkhart are very kind and welcoming. BUT, when I tell them that we are new to the area from VA Beach, they look at me like I was just released from the insane assylum and ask: WHY??? My husband is a subcontractor (ceramic tile) and he lost work due to the economy; subsequently, we lost our home to foreclosure. He and his partner found word with a tile company in Fort Wayne, and they are now traveling all over IN; they are guaranteed at least a year or so of work. I lived in VA all my life (39 yrs) and left behind my family (including elderly parents in ill health) to be with my husband (as the Bible says I should.) Am I scared for our future? YES. But we take what God gives us, as it will only make us stronger in the end. We have had to downsize ALOT and are getting used to many different changes. i am trying to look at this whole situation in a positive light. I may never find a job, but I give thanks that my husband has work. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who are less fortunate than we are.
Emily,
That's the spirit. We can only pray that we'll be able to take the lickin' and keep the roof over our heads. As a single mother with a college bound kid and extended family to care for, I ask God for that very thing for myself and others everyday.
What about Michigan? The whole state has had the highest unemployment rate in the country for several years now, but nobody seems to care. And no, it's not all about the automotive industry.
Morris, I can't believe you are so naive to think that the unions give a hoot about the working man. Unions are a business plain and simply. All unions care about are getting more people to sign that union card, so the unions bosses then can collect the dues the card holders have to pay.
I am all in favor of the idea of canceling student loan debt in order to stimulate the economy. Instead of bailing out the corporate fat cats who continue to waste bailout money, why not help out the little guys ... people who have tried to better themselves through continued education. The amount of money from student loan payments being pumped into the economy would no doubt help turn things around.
I grew up in Terre Haute, IN and now live an work in Houston. The reason is that most of these towns are led by idiots! A few years ago a major company wanted to relocate in Terre Haute and God know they neede the jobs. However the mayor at that time blocked it because the company was brining a more diverse workforce and the mayor did not like the fact that very affulent minorities wold be coming into his town!
God doe not like ugly, so when some of these towns are suffering they should take a look ion the mirror and at their leaders!!