"Wouldn't You Walk Away?" Foreclosures and Homeowner Understandings. Issue 2 (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cleaveland, Carol L.; Shutika, Debra Lattanzi
• Is Part Of: Families in society. Volume 100:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 174
• Page End: 187
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: neoliberalism -- immigration -- housing -- economic justice; Social service -- Periodicals; Social case work -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; Social service -- United States -- Periodicals; Family social work; Social case work; Social service; United States; Periodicals; 362.82097305
• DOI: 10.1177/1044389418809779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-3894

Abstract

Social work scholarship on neoliberalism—the dominant ideology and policies shaping access to housing, jobs, healthcare, and education—is in its infancy. This study examines the ground-level impact of the subprime mortgage crisis that triggered the Great Recession in 2008, examining how homeowners interpreted the changes to their neighborhood as they witnessed a remarkably high rate of foreclosures during the economic collapse of 2008-2010. Residents of a suburban community were unaware of the lending and banking practices that transformed their neighborhoods, though these policies arguably depreciated house values and a sense of well-being. Not knowing the culpability of predatory lenders in the crisis, some residents turned to an anti-immigrant social movement to preserve their community.