1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
"Houses of Blues: The Extreme Stress of Merced's Foreclosure Epidemic" by Deborah Schoch, Senior Writer, California HealthCare Foundation Center for Health Reporting; Danielle E. Gaines, Staff Writer, Merced Sun-Star. A partnership between the Center for Health Reporting and the Merced Sun-Star.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Jan. 28, 2010 and Jan. 30, 2010, the Merced Sun-Star.
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
The foreclosure of a home is more than a financial transaction. It also is a hidden human drama, with potentially devastating psychological consequences for those involved. For Ethelda Lopez, it ended her lifelong dream of a home to retire in. Her story is one of literally thousands in Merced County, which with 8,389 filings ranked first in California for foreclosures in 2009, and sixth among counties nationwide. With one in seven county homes foreclosed on since September 2006, we were among the earliest in the nation to focus on the psychological problems, including anxiety, sleeplessness and depression, wreaked by the foreclosure crisis. In Merced County, it shows few signs of abating. During this four-week investigation, two reporters and a photographer talked to dozens of families on the edge, renters who had seen their landlords foreclosed on, a realtor whose business changed from selling homes to telling people they have to get out. "I used to be a hero getting people into a home," mused Andy Krotik. "Now, I'm nobody's hero. Now, a lot of people I sold homes to are losing their home." The team also found that the county's mental health services were woefully unprepared to deal with a community in depression. State cuts in mental health services had translated into staff cuts at the county level.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Reporters looked at Merced County foreclosure court documents, pored over residents' bills and mortgage contracts and foreclosure notices, examined comparative county, state and national foreclosure.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
This was an extremely delicate story to execute. People were angry, depressed, despondent, confused and exhibited little trust of anyone. Many had lost their self-esteem; others were fearful of losing theirs, and fearful that by our publishing their names and their circumstances they would expose to ridicule what little self-worth they retained. Virtually the entire community was in a state of shock and depression.
6. Results (if any).
This project had astounding results, opening a dialogue where there had been none. It was a story that everyone whispered about but dared not address out loud. There was substantial "comment" traffic and calls and emails to the paper. One result to the volume of response and the comments of local leaders was the paper's decision to approach the local community college about co-sponsoring a public forum on the foreclosure issue. They did, and more than 70 people attended.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
N/a.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
This was a very difficult story, particularly for hard-charging journalists who think they can simply ask questions and get answers. The story was intensely delicate. Subjects had to be approached tentatively and cautiously. Many decided they just could not participate. We reluctantly allowed two people not to have their names published with their stories. It was clear that, in such a small community, there could be consequences if they were named.