The Outer Edge of Poverty in Foreclosed Suburbs of Poinciana

March 26th, 2009 | Tags: Foreclosed Properties

Poverty is depilating – more so is the outer edge of poverty in the foreclosed suburbs of Poinciana. James Wentworth came for peace and quiet to the developing suburbs of Poinciana about three years ago. He bought a brand new house and settled down far away from tensions of city life.

Today James, formerly a bus driver, together with his roommate has lost his job. His water supply has been shut off as he is facing foreclosure. The idyllic suburbia has become a blind alley – the end of the road.

This is the outer edge of poverty far away from the city with very few alternatives for survival. At the time when sub-prime mortgages were popular many moved into what they thought were affordable houses. Ordinarily these people would not have qualified for the conservative and traditional prime mortgages that required certain income levels and proof of earnings. The house had to be in proportion to their financial status. With the meltdown of the sub-prime mortgages James and many like him have reached a dead end. They do not know where to turn to.

In a desperate mood, much to the annoyance of neighbours, the roommate of James began to walk around the streets begging for money to make a journey of 20 miles to get some bread and cheese. The remoteness that had drawn these folks to the region that arches between Polk and Osceola counties has now left them cut off in a bare house. It is a two-hour’s walk to the nearest bus stop. There is no running water, no church or emergency unit within a radius of 7 miles. Each moment they are afraid that electricity too will vanish and so too will their mobile phone connections. This would complete their isolation.

Wentworth has not totally lost his love for the place but there is the fear of living in the dark without light, water or phone. Moreover he has no alternative place to go to.

Many of those who have recently shifted to the suburbs are losing their jobs with unemployment spiraling to 9%. Foreclosures are swallowing up their houses as interest rates continue to spike on the ARM contracts.

According to RealtyTrac the majority of foreclosures were reported from the outlying areas of Metro Orlando during February. Here there are no social-service umbrellas to give protection during these rainy days.