MESQUITE, Texas — There's no hiding the housing crisis in North Texas. There were more foreclosures this year than any other year in history — a combined 64,000 in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties.
If you have fallen behind (or are about to), experts say one of the first things you are supposed to do is contact your mortgage company and try to work something out.
That is exactly what Danny Stone did. He's 64 years old, fought for our country, faces a life-threatening illness, and fell behind on payments.
But Stone says his mortgage company refused to help him, and is now about to throw him on out on the streets.
Anywhere Stone walks in his house, a narrow hose follows him. He's on oxygen. His health ailments are numerous, including lung disease and kidney cancer.
"I can't get around. I can't go without my oxygen and all; I have congestive heart failure," Stone said.
The Army veteran fell behind on his mortgage payments, so he declared bankruptcy.
But then, he fell behind on payments to the federal trustee.
The lender is foreclosing on his house next Tuesday.
"I tried to pay them," Stone said. "When I got behind, they wouldn't accept anything."
Stone — who once owned his own plumbing business — said he doesn't know where he will go if he's evicted. The prospect of leaving the house he's been in for more than three decades is emotionally painful for him.
Markings on a bedroom door show the height and growth of his grandchildren.
Sue Brockway has been a good neighbor to Stone. She checks on him often and takes him to for doctor visits.
"They say the government will help these older people who are in need. Where are you when you need them?" she asked. "I know he's tried everything he can to keep his home."
The Oklahoma City lender that is foreclosing on Stone would not discuss the foreclosure, citing privacy laws.
E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com
