Veteran’s Success Story: A Veteran’s Home Saved

On December 9th 2024, A Veteran who served in the United States Army from 1984 until 1990  had called Legal Services of North Dakota because he had received notice that his home he had lived in for over the past 10 years was scheduled for Sheriff’s auction due to a foreclosure proceeding. The veteran was so confused as how this could have happened without any prior notice. After briefly reviewing the case, speaking with the veteran, and reaching out to the attorney of record for foreclosure it turned out while the veteran was still mailing a physical check each month to who he believed to be his mortgage company. His mortgage had been bought, not once but twice so even though the veteran thought he was still making the payments he in fact was not.

Attorney for LSND then reached out to the attorney for the mortgage company who had no idea that this home owner was a veteran. But once he found out he was he was more than willing to help find a way to keep this veteran from losing his home. After many phone calls back and forth with ideas both parties agreed that applying for a mortgage modification would be the best option for this veteran. Keep in mind the Sheriffs auction was still set to proceed on January 6th 2025. 
Right after Christmas the veteran heard back from the mortgage company, and they told him that it could take up to 30 days to process the request but he could call each day to check on the status of the mortgage modification. With not having 30 days to spare the Attorney for Veteran Representation with LSND decided to take the squeaky wheel approach to help this veteran. Everyday thereafter the veteran and the attorney for LSND called the mortgage company 3 times a day to “check on the status” in hopes that if anything it would cause them to want to review his application faster. In the between the veteran and the attorney for LSND began to search for alternative housing just in case the plan didn’t work Attorney for LSND felt they should have a backup plan to ensure there would be no lapse is sustainable housing for this Veteran. 

Finally on December 31st, 2024, a mere 6 days before The HOME this veteran planned to spend the rest of his life was set to go to Sheriffs Auction the mortgage company sent notice that mortgage modification was approved.

On January 7th, 2025, Staff Attorney for Veteran Representation for LSND reached out to the Veteran one more time and the Veteran wanted to extend his sincerest thank you. If it wasn’t for the Veterans Homelessness Grant, the hardworking staff at LSND, and a Veterans Staff Attorney willing to go the extra lengths this Veterans story would have ended with him losing not just a house but a home that held a lifetime of memories for this Veteran.