Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza (C) stands with Anaheim police officer Chris Ned (L) after enforcing an eviction order on the foreclosed condominium of Aida Lemus, 70, (R) in Anaheim, California, June 23, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
I followed Sheriff’s Deputies evicting people from foreclosed homes, shooting photos, video, and audio, for a story which formed part of the REUTERS ‘Times of Crisis’ multimedia package.
Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza views a foreclosed home he has arrived to enforce an eviction order on in Fullerton, California, June 23, 2009 . California is one of the places hardest hit by foreclosures as hundreds of thousands defaulted on the subprime loans that fueled a buying frenzy. But in the year since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the number of prime borrowers who are overdue or in foreclosure has also skyrocketed to one in 10. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
It was tense every time Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Mendoza approached a foreclosed home. He readied his hand on his gun. Trailing him with a camera to show the human cost of the housing crisis, I followed at a safe distance.
Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza prepares to enter an outhouse as he enforces an eviction order on a foreclosed home in Fullerton, California, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Many homes were already empty, and Mendoza would walk through the eerily silent rooms, gun drawn, making sure nobody was there.
Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza searches in a children’s bedroom as he enforces an eviction order on a foreclosed home in Fullerton, California, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Mexican immigrant Aida Lemus, a frail 70-year-old, looked scared as she opened her front door and peered through the crack.Mendoza told her he was taking possession of her home for failing to pay her mortgage.
She needed to let him in, gather a few belongings and leave.
Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza (L) talks to Aida Lemus, 70, (C) as he enforces an eviction order on her foreclosed condominium in Anaheim, California, June 23, 2009. At right is neighbour Gloria Naranjo. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Aida opened the door. Happy family photos lined a well-kept living room, reminding me of visiting my grandparents’ home as a child. She spoke little English and immediately phoned a man who was giving her legal advice.
Mendoza found a bilingual neighbor to tell her she needed to end the phone call and leave so he could change the locks.
Aida Lemus, 70, cries as she is evicted from her foreclosed condominium in Anaheim, California, June 23, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
She began to cry and clutch her stomach as she talked about her grandchildren’s bottled milk. Paramedics came to check on her, and left after calming her down.
She eventually picked up only her handbag and a towel and left her home, quietly sobbing.
A locksmith changes the locks on a house after Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza (R) and Anaheim police officer Chris Ned (C) enforce an eviction order in Anaheim, California, June 23, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
It was horrible to watch, and Mendoza and I were silent for a while as we drove to the next foreclosed home.
California is one of the states hit hardest by mortgage foreclosures. Hundreds of thousands defaulted on subprime loans that fueled a buying frenzy. One in 10 prime borrowers are in foreclosure or overdue on payments.
Angel Guevara, 2, lies in the bedroom of the apartment their family is being evicted from, in Los Angeles, June 11, 2009. The apartment building tenants were paying their rent, but had their trash services cut off and are now being evicted after the owner failed to pay the mortgage. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Mendoza has told me about finding senior citizens, small kids and pitbulls left behind in the homes. His colleague, Deputy Ramona Figueroa, says many homes are in an appalling state. Mold is eating through the roof, meat rots in the refrigerator and animal feces and urine soil the carpet.
Orange County sheriff’s deputy Ramona Figueroa climbs through a window to enforce an eviction order on a foreclosed home in Fullerton, California, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
One man was growing marijuana upstairs, another took his life when a deputy arrived.The people who had been evicted often seemed to leave behind a couple of belongings after emptying their homes: a crocheted baby’s sweater, a single plate of uneaten food. Many obviously left in a hurry. I tried to picture them from their remaining possessions.
A cupboard emptied of clothes is seen as Orange County sheriff’s deputy Ramona Figueroa enforces an eviction order on a foreclosed home in Fullerton, California, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson Orange County sheriff’s deputy Dan Mendoza (R) stands in an empty swimming pool in the garden of a foreclosed home he arrived to enforce an eviction order on, with realtor Julio Saldana of Century 21 Allstars, in Anaheim, California, June 23, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson