101-year-old Detroit woman foreclosed on, evicted

This video television frame grab provided by WXYZ.com shows Texana Hollis of Detroit. / AP Photo/WXYZ.com

DETROIT - A 101-year-old woman was evicted from the southwest Detroit home where she lived for nearly six decades after her 65-year-old son failed to pay the mortgage.

Texana Hollis was evicted Monday and her belongings were placed outside the home. Her son, Warren Hollis, said he didn't pay the bill for several years and disregarded eviction notices.

"I kept it from her because I didn't want to worry her," Warren Hollis told WXYZ-TV for a report that aired Monday night. "I was just so sure it wasn't going to happen."

Wayne County Chief Deputy Treasurer David Szymanski told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Hollises took out an adjustable-rate mortgage in 2002. A default and foreclosure notice was filed in November.

"They ended up owing $80,000 on the home," Szymanski said. "Warren indicates he did not make the payments. He got the notices, but threw them away."

County records show that property taxes were paid on the home through summer 2010. A winter tax bill of $55.95, including interest and fees, was unpaid, and a $778.44 summer tax bill was due this month.

A neighbor was letting Texana and Warren Hollis live in a rental house across the street from the home they shared, and Texana Hollis' belongings were being moved there. Others, including a nonprofit organization, were working to get her back into her home.

On Monday night, she was taken to a hospital for evaluation after she became disoriented.

Szymanski said county officials were asking questions and looking into what they can do to help. He said the county has worked with 10,000 taxpayers to keep them from going into foreclosure.

"The teachable moment here is for people not to stick their head in the sand," he said.

[jeremy3471]

So what is the name of this charity organization helping her out? If the writer of this article actually cared he or she might actually print the name and contact information of this group, so others could help out as well. All this stress is probably going to kill this elderly lady before she's ever able to step foot in her home that she's lived in for 60 years again. Another reason why taxing people's property should not be allowed. You can't even own your own home here anymore. You just pay a lower rent on it once you pay it off. I agree with the following argument posted a couple of years ago on a blog discussing real estate property tax. Shelter is necessary to life, especially in harsh climates. Life is a right and rights cannot be taxed - or so the courts have ruled. Taxing that which is necessary to life is the same as taxing life itself.

To force a person to pay a tax on a necessity of life also forces them into servitude and slavery, inasmuch as the tax is unavoidable and they have to labor to pay the tax.

The property tax also completely takes the property for public use without compensation inasmuch as it is a repetitive tax on the same asset, year after year, until the entire value of the property is taken. Imagine paying an income tax year after year on the same income you earned 10 years ago...!

In some states the legislative taxing authority is delegated to non governmental entities such as districts - which results in citizens of the same state paying disparate taxes on the equal valued properties. As the state could not do that, i.e. treat state citizens unequally, how can they delegate their taxing powers in ways that treat them unequally?

[Blu_Moon]

"...she was taken to a hospital for evaluation after she became disoriented".

Gosh, that's a surprise!


So sad, where's the compassion? I mean, come on, how many more years is she going to live? She didn't even know the payments weren't being made. That the bank can be so apathetic just blows me away. Leave her in peace, and let her live out the rest of her
days in her home. She had no clue of what was happening, and then to find her belongings in the yard!? This is just a sad world.
"...So sad, where's the compassion? I mean, come on, how many more years is she going to live? She didn't even know the payments weren't being made. That the bank can be so apathetic just blows me away. Leave her in peace, and let her live out the rest of her
days in her home. She had no clue of what was happening, and then to find her belongings in the yard!? This is just a sad world.

[tracietigress]

"The teachable moment here is for people not to stick their head in the sand."

WOW, I was thinking that the teachable moment was how greedy, cold, and heartless the banks were to evict this woman. God will have his vengeance on all the evil people who LOVE money so much that people don't seem to matter.

SHE IS 101 FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!

[alkjasdfoahf]

It is very sad. You should help her. We should help her. But not the government. That isn't their business.

[guystuckonearth]

It's Bush's fault.

[tracietigress]

LOL!

I know that was meant to be funny guystuck, but if you really think about it, I am sure that this is true.

[Lindag10]

There is a lot more to this than the information in the article. I feel extremely sorry for the old lady, but the son's actions make little or no sense. Of course the house would need extensive repairs and renovation if the woman had lived in it for so long, but if the son was unable to make the mortgage he must have some reason for ignoring the problem. Makes you wonder what REALLY is going on.

[OmegaWolf747]

All the blame should go to the city, county, state, whatever for taxing property in the first place. Down with income and property taxes!

[suzannelrr11]

This story is missing a component. The deed is in whose name and who took out the loan for home repairs in 2002. I get the feeling that the property is in the son's name and therefore Ms. Texan Hollis lived with her son. Did the authorities who provided the loan even know that a 101 year old woman lived there? This man clearly failed his mother big time. No other is to be blamed period!

[addict42]

Obviously her son thought she would pass away before forclosure could take place. The son should be ashamed of himself. He probably squandered all the social safety net funds that were allocated to them both. Irresponsible!

[MontrosMan]

Listen up all you bleeding heart liberals who want to blame the bank, let us read between the lines. A home that was owned for 65 years by a 101 year old had a $80,000 mortgage on it. The son was receiving the notices and, presumably at one time, making payments. In all probability, the son took out a refi on the home without his mother's knowledge. In fact, his name may have been on the deed. He started making payments, but at one point said, "Screw it. By the time the bank forecloses on the home, she will be long gone." Well guess what, she lived to over 100. Who would have known. Now, the little ponzi scheme caught up to him. Instead of the bank taking over an empty home, there happens to be a little old lady still living inside. Didn't think that would happen, did ya? The son is 100% to blame. Not the 101 year old, and not the bank. The fact that he simply discarded the notices is proof enough that he could give a rats behind about the home or his mother. In fact, why does he make his mother live on her own at 101? Everyone is yelling at the bank for putting a poor old lady on the street and raising funds to house her, why doesn't she live with her son? In fact, he should have taken her in decades ago! The headline should have read, "Deadbeat Son Puts 101 Year Old Mother in the Streets".

[OYP26]

100% correct. Nothing more needs to be said on this matter. Thanks MonstrosMan!

[Kyderrill]

Thank you for your common sence reply. It is so sad to read the comments of so many people with such a worpped view of life.

[venusvegasvada]

Her son is a total IDIOT. Six decades? That house should have been paid off years ago. Did the son take out a mortgage on it then not make the payments? Unbelievable.

Now tell me again how fantastic it's been since the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act and the passing of Gramm-Leach-Biley Act?

[netjunkie1]

They got suckered with a variable interest loan.
Obviously victimized by corporate interests.
How was the bank to expect them to pay them off with, their social security checks?..........send the bank managers to jail.

[realtimecoffee]

IF it was variable interest then the rate is currently VERY low. She is a victim of a dead beat son.