FACING FORECLOSURE

Joe Bentfield of rural Cambridge is on hard times.

Joe Bentfield didn't ever think he'd be in this situation. Sure he has had a rough few years, but he'd pull out of it. As soon as he healed. As soon as he got a good job. As soon as his own business bounced back to the level it used to be at.
But time has run out for Bentfield.
He's about to lose his house to foreclosure.
The sale is set for July 2, 2008 at 10 a.m.
"I'm not a slacker. I'm not a weirdo. I'm not an alcoholic. I've just run into some hard times," said the 52-year-old man.
As he explained in a letter to his mortgage company, Chase Manhattan, his financial woes began with a divorce in 2001. A self-employed artist, he lost his workshop when his ex-wife got the house.
Soon after, Bentfield learned that his mom had lung cancer. He offered to move in with her and help her out through her treatment. The three months turned into two and one-half years.
Shortly after her first surgery, Bentfield, too, had surgery to repair an injured right shoulder. Unable to work, he soon found himself behind on child support payments.
Then doctors discovered his mom's cancer had crept into her breast. She told Bentfield she'd only do it if he stayed with her. He did.
When she died three years ago, Bentfield bought a home in rural Cambridge. After two-and-one half years, he had a workshop again to paint his creative designs on helmets. Business wasn't like what it used to be, however, as he'd lost many of his old contacts at places such as Bell Helmets, HJC Helmets, I Tech Goalie, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, Polaris, Ski Doo and the Hells Angels,
He took a job as a delivery driver and got hurt again. He got the knee replacement, and then began battling with insurance companies. Because his boss had switched insurance companies, neither would take responsibility for paying for his medical bills.
He hired an attorney, and then to pay the attorney bills refinanced his house. The lender, St. Croix Mortgage of Inver Grove Heights, called it a "band-aid loan," one at a high interest rate that would give him enough money to live on until his settlement came through. Then plans were to refinance again at a lower rate without any closing costs.
Bentfield was awarded the settlement, but the mortgage company has yet to return his phone calls.
He took a job with a car dealership in Pine City, figuring it would be a good job with a good salary. He was hopeful things were going to turn around. Then disaster struck again. He went into work one day last summer to find the dealership had closed its doors. Denny Hecker had bought the company. Employees were told they'd be hired back, but one month later Bentfield learned they'd hired an entirely new crew.
He was out of a job again.
Struggling to find work, Bentfield took three part-time jobs, but couldn't make enough to pay the bills.
In February, he finally found a full-time job close to home with decent pay. In April, his mortgage payments jumped up another $200 hitting $1,400 a month.
"In time I can make ends meet. I know this will happen. All I need is the chance to make it happen," Bentfield wrote in a letter to his mortgage company.
It was a "hardship" letter he'd written after contacting his mortgage company. Then he waited to hear back from Chase. He's still waiting three months later. He's called, but gets transferred from one person to another. He wants to make a payment or two, but can't figure out where to send it.
Bentfield called in April when a letter from a Twin Cities attorney came pointing out he was behind in payments. And he called the first week of May when he received a foreclosure notice in the mail.
He's frustrated, and doesn't understand why they don't even tell him about the process of climbing out of a foreclosure.
"You get to the point where you want to throw your hands up and say, 'To heck with it,'" admitted Bentfield.
MANY IN JOE'S SHOES
Bentfield isn't alone.
Many people currently facing foreclosure don't understand the process and are frustrated by the lack of answers from their lenders, noted Greg Owens of Community Pride Bank in Isanti.
He warns folks to beware of companies who charge fees to help you avoid foreclosure. Rather he steers people to free services, such as the counseling offered through Lutheran Social Services.
The organization won't give people money to help them make payments, but will instead talk to them about how to prioritize where their money goes. "This is to analyze your situation and move you in the right direction," said Owens.
He noted that people will be most successful at getting out of foreclosures if they ask for help after they've missed one payment.
"If people are having some difficulty, the best thing to do is address it immediately and not put it under the rug," said Owens.
The longer people wait, the tougher and more expensive it gets, as fees are added.
He doesn't think most people understand how a foreclosure will affect their credit in the long run, blocking them from getting a loan for a car or even a new credit card at Target.
PEOPLE PULL TOGETHER
Isanti County ranked second highest in the state in 2007 in terms of numbers of foreclosures. Experts expect the trend to continue this year.
"We've got to pull together to pull us out of this," said Owens.
He is one of many people concerned about the current foreclosure situation in the area. He's decided to do something about it, and has assembled a group of people who share his concern.
Their first step is to get information out to the people that individuals facing foreclosure go to when they need help: pastors, food shelters, social workers and real estate agents.
An informational session for those people will take place on June 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Cambridge Campus. Pre-registration is required. Go to http://5countytrainingworkshop.eventbrite.com. This is not fore people facing foreclosure, but for those professionals who help them.
"We have to get the word out to people that there is help," said Owens. "You've got to get it sooner rather than later."
As for Bentfield, well, he doesn't know what the future holds.
"I'm nervous about it, I really am," he said.

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ABOUT JOE BENTFIELD
Joe Bentfield's helmet designs have appeared on such well-known racers as Jay Springsteen, Guy Cooper, Bob Hanna, Roger DeCoster and Donny Schmidt. They've shown up in "Mighty Ducks," Prince's "Purple Rain," Jet Li's "Cradle to the Grave" and Sylvester Stalone's "Driven."


ARE YOU FACING
FORECLOSURE?
Take action:
• Open your mail. Call your lender. Don't be afraid. They want to help you.
• Cut your bills. Make temporary sacrifices.
• Put your house payment first.
• A sheriff's sale does not mean you have to move right away.
• Beware of those trying to offer a quick and easy fix.
• Call a foreclosure prevention counselor NOW for free advice and options.
- Minnesota Home Ownership Center: 1-866-426-6466 or www.hocmn.org
- Lutheran Social Services: 888.577.2227 or www.lssmn.org/debt/
* From the Minnesota Home Ownership Center

DO YOU WANT TO HELP SOMEONE FACING FORECLOSURE?
Attend a seminar:
• Foreclosure Prevention Information and Referral Training: June 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Cambridge Campus. Pre-registration required; go to http://5countytrainingworkshop.eventbrite.com
Join the local group:
• Contact Greg Owns at Community Pride to get involved locally, gowens@cpride.com or 763-235-2380
Share information
• Share the tips and contact information listed above