My family and I have lived in our South Minneapolis home for the past 7 years, but now we are in foreclosure because of a bank error, leaving our home under threat of imminent eviction despite us being willing and able to pay a mortgage.

Our home went into foreclosure when PNC Bank failed to withdraw an online mortgage payment submitted by my father and then demanded two months’ payment as punishment. Unable to pay more than the current month’s payment, our family fell into foreclosure.

After our home fell into foreclosure, we then began working with a local nonprofit that was supposed to be working out a loan modification. In February without warning an agent of the bank came to our house and told us we had 48 hours to leave the property, terrifying our family and ignoring our right to a legal eviction process.

We want to keep our home and want the bank to negotiate a reasonable settlement for our mortgage based on the actual value of the property. Together with Occupy Homes MN we will defend our home from foreclosure and force the bank to do what is right.

The foreclosure crisis has had devastating effects on the Latino community, and until now, many families have been afraid to stand up when they are being mistreated by the banks that have been fraudulently foreclosing on families across the country. The banks have used this fear and manipulation of a complicated legal system to profit from honest, hardworking people. We will not remain silent because we know that if more people are inspired by our example and stand up for their rights the banks will be forced to do what is right for all homeowners.