The predatory lending and foreclosure crisis in Summit County and Northeast Ohio came to the public’s attention in the past few years, and the fallout is not over yet.

 Three informative panelists joined us on Thursday, May 15 at the Fairlawn Bath Library to discuss “Predatory Lending: Dealing with the Aftermath.” Lolita Adair is a local realtor and fair housing advocate who chaired the Home Foreclosure and Predatory Lending Task Force for Summit County; Cynthia Sich, a member of LWVAA, is the Director of the County of Summit Office of Consumer Affairs; and Steve Baughman is a Counselor at the Fair Housing Connection Service, Inc.

 Ms. Adair gave us background on how the foreclosure came about, detailing the kinds of subprime loans that were made, as well as outright fraud that occurred.  Ms. Sich discussed the role of her office in educating and helping consumers to avoid becoming victims, as well as in researching the extent of the problem. Mr. Baughman talked about his role as a counselor who tries to help persons who have become trapped in subprime mortgages and are looking for a way to stay in their home. After their presentations, the panelists took questions from the audience, helping us to understand how Summit County was in the forefront of recognizing the crisis in the making and taking a lead role in dealing with the aftermath.