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Residents tell council they can’t pay to reclaim foreclosed homes and urge help for evicted seniors
Summary
During public comment, multiple Detroit residents described being unable to pay post-foreclosure fees to reclaim property, alleged illegal overtaxation, and an imminent eviction of a 79-year-old resident. Council staff offered to collect contact information and follow up; members encouraged residents to seek right-to-counsel resources.
Detroit — Several residents used the Committee of the Whole’s public comment period to describe housing distress: a man who said his foreclosed home could not be redeemed at the Wayne County treasurer’s office despite having money to pay, a resident who says she was illegally overtaxed by $40,000 and paid fees to avoid losing her home, and a community advocate who described a 79-year-old tenant facing sudden eviction.
"My name is Kelvin, 46 year old Detroit resident. And I ran into a little issue with, my property. I had fell behind on my property taxes. And, the house was foreclosed," one caller said. He said he now has the money to pay but "the Wayne County treasurer ... told me I can't pay them because the property is foreclosed. And I was wondering, is there anything that, anybody can do to help me out with this?" Chair Leticia Johnson's office took the caller's ZIP code (48234) and said staff would collect contact information to work with Wayne County on his behalf.
Another commenter, Tahira Ahmad, told the committee she had been "illegally overtaxed $40,000" and said she paid what she described as an "extortion fee" to avoid foreclosure. Ahmad said she raised the issue repeatedly in public meetings and reported being discouraged from seeking help. Member Callaway did not dispute the claim and the committee offered to forward relevant responses the legislative policy division had already provided to previous requesters.
Betty A. Varner, speaking on behalf of the DeSoto Ellsworth community association, described a 79-year-old resident who has lived at his address for 10 years, has rent receipts and utility receipts, and was given short notice by a landlord. "He is in need," Varner said, adding that the man is on a fixed income and needs affordable housing. Council staff and members suggested the constituent contact right-to-counsel resources and the appropriate council office for assistance.
Why it matters: Public commenters described apparent breakdowns in property-tax redemption and landlord-tenant processes that residents say threaten housing stability for low-income and elderly Detroiters. Council offices and staff committed to gather contact information and follow up.
What happens next: Council staff said they would collect contact details for the foreclosed homeowner and follow up with Wayne County staff to explore options. Members encouraged the evicted resident to seek legal counsel via the city's Right to Counsel program and asked staff to route existing legislative policy division responses to callers who had previously inquired.
