Originally Posted by jane032657 (Post 561617)

I operate (well until end of October) the largest foreclosure counseling program in Washington State as well as the Statewide foreclosure hotline. The banks do very little to care for homes in distress nor do they have empathy for the economics of the remainder of the neighborhoods. In fact many banks are holding on to these properties on their books and not releasing them for sale until the market picks up. I have been to many neighborhoods with homes scattered that are short sales or that have been foreclosed. It is a travesty to the rest of the neighbors to have so much neglect when they care so meticulously for their own homes. My best suggestion is to get a neighborhood action team and spend a day or two at least beautifying the outside for your own peace of mind, not that you should have to, but the banks will not step up and it sounds like the district will not step up either. When I get there, I would join in a work day to help out a neighborhood to clean things up and I bet lots of others would too. We do it here to help people in crisis through a non profit group and we beautify properties of those who cannot. We can do the same as neighbor to neighbor and donate some personal time to make a difference where there are distressed properties. It is amazing what ten to twenty people can do in a day. That is what community is. It is the bigger picture, not just our own microcosm.