On Saturday October 27th, clergy, faith leaders, and community members gathered for a prayer vigil and spoke out against the pending sheriff’s sale of resident Dianne More’s home.  There was a brief prayer service followed by a set of speakers, including homeowner Dianne Moore, and Rev. Dr. Charles Gill, pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul.

Dianne is an active community member and a congregant of Pilgrim Baptist Church. She bought her home in 2006 at the height of the real estate bubble. Health issues in 2010 led to a complicated surgery and the loss of her teaching job. She became unable to make her payments and the bank began foreclosure proceedings. Since then her health has improved, she’s started her own business, has a part time job teaching and can afford payments on the home.

“All I’m asking for is a good faith negotiation from the banks involved,” said Dianne. “I live, work and teach in this community. The banks were bailed out and got a second chance after the economy collapsed. Now, us homeowners deserve the same chance to rebuild.”

Local organizations have been pushing the city of St. Paul to pass a mediation ordinance to encourage banks to work with people like Dianne to find a solution that is best for all parties.

Rev. Gill believes this is an issue of faith and that it is wrong to take someone’s home, “I don’t believe that people should be forced out of their homes like this. I don’t see why we can’t sit down and negotiate this out. That would be in the best interest for all people involved.”

The event was organized by ISAIAH and Occupy Homes MN.