56 °f
Detroit
EL CENTRAL Hispanic News
  • Home
  • About
    • Introducing the partnership with the Race and Justice reporting Initiative
    • Resources
  • Español
    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Independencia de México

    Independencia de México

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Can you be arrested for looking Hispanic?

    Can you be arrested for looking Hispanic?

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

  • Community

    Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

    Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

    Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

    Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

    Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

  • Featured
    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

    “SWFest” to Showcase Local Sound for Fifth Year at Senate Theater

    “SWFest” to Showcase Local Sound for Fifth Year at Senate Theater

    Senator Slotkin Delivers Federal Honor to CHASS as Funding Fights Loom

    Senator Slotkin Delivers Federal Honor to CHASS as Funding Fights Loom

    A Forever Home for Detroit City FC

    A Forever Home for Detroit City FC

    CHASS Center Honored with Spirit of Detroit Award in Honor of 55 Years of Community Health, Dignity, and Hope

    CHASS Center Honored with Spirit of Detroit Award in Honor of 55 Years of Community Health, Dignity, and Hope

    Gutierrez and cousin Jacob Lozano

    Donut Villa Expands to Second Location Near Ford Rouge Plant

  • Opinion
  • Culture & Arts
    • All
    • World Cultures
    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

    Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

    Independencia de México

    Independencia de México

    ¡Vamonos! Transforms Into an Immersive All Latina Artists Gallery

    ¡Vamonos! Transforms Into an Immersive All Latina Artists Gallery

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Ayapaneco Numte oote – Zoque de Tabasco

    Ayapaneco Numte oote – Zoque de Tabasco

    Festivalgoers enjoying the photobooth.

    SWFest: Celebrating Five Years of Creativity and Community

    Mayan Kaqchikel

    Mayan Kaqchikel

    • World Cultures
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
    • Throwbacks
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • en English
    • en English
    • es Spanish
No Result
View All Result
EL CENTRAL Hispanic News
  • Home
  • About
    • Introducing the partnership with the Race and Justice reporting Initiative
    • Resources
  • Español
    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Independencia de México

    Independencia de México

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Can you be arrested for looking Hispanic?

    Can you be arrested for looking Hispanic?

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

  • Community

    Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

    Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

    Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

    Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

    Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

  • Featured
    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

    “SWFest” to Showcase Local Sound for Fifth Year at Senate Theater

    “SWFest” to Showcase Local Sound for Fifth Year at Senate Theater

    Senator Slotkin Delivers Federal Honor to CHASS as Funding Fights Loom

    Senator Slotkin Delivers Federal Honor to CHASS as Funding Fights Loom

    A Forever Home for Detroit City FC

    A Forever Home for Detroit City FC

    CHASS Center Honored with Spirit of Detroit Award in Honor of 55 Years of Community Health, Dignity, and Hope

    CHASS Center Honored with Spirit of Detroit Award in Honor of 55 Years of Community Health, Dignity, and Hope

    Gutierrez and cousin Jacob Lozano

    Donut Villa Expands to Second Location Near Ford Rouge Plant

  • Opinion
  • Culture & Arts
    • All
    • World Cultures
    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

    Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

    Independencia de México

    Independencia de México

    ¡Vamonos! Transforms Into an Immersive All Latina Artists Gallery

    ¡Vamonos! Transforms Into an Immersive All Latina Artists Gallery

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Ayapaneco Numte oote – Zoque de Tabasco

    Ayapaneco Numte oote – Zoque de Tabasco

    Festivalgoers enjoying the photobooth.

    SWFest: Celebrating Five Years of Creativity and Community

    Mayan Kaqchikel

    Mayan Kaqchikel

    • World Cultures
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
    • Throwbacks
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • en English
    • en English
    • es Spanish
No Result
View All Result
EL CENTRAL Hispanic News
No Result
View All Result

Was your Detroit home foreclosed? Wayne County might owe you money

It’s real money, but it won’t make up for what Detroiters lost during the foreclosure crisis

EL CENTRAL by EL CENTRAL
February 27, 2025
in Community
Reading Time: 7 mins read
Home Community
ShareShareTweetEmail to a friend
  • Koby Levin for Outlier Media
  • Cydni Elledge
  • February 27, 2025

The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office owes thousands of Detroiters money  — in some cases more than $10,000 — after profiting from tax foreclosures in violation of the state Constitution.

Many of these former homeowners have no idea that recent court rulings entitle them to this money, and the deadline to claim it is just a few months away.

Outlier Media and other nonprofits in Detroit are working to help residents recover what they’re owed.

Here’s what you need to know — and how you can help.

Find out if you could be owed money or get help with a claim

If you or someone you know lost a home to tax foreclosure in Detroit between 2015 and 2020, look up the address online[i] or text it to 67485, our TXT OUTLIER service.* 

If the data show that Wayne County could owe you money, you’ll need to fill out a claim form before the March 31 deadline. Outlier is working with other Detroit nonprofits to help people navigate the process at no cost. Just text REPORTER to 67485 and tell us you need assistance or ask a question. 

If you’re not on the list but you experienced a tax foreclosure during that period, reach out to us anyway by texting REPORTER to 67485 — the data may be incorrect. Appearing on the list also doesn’t guarantee a payout. The only way to find out for sure is to submit a claim before the deadline. Note: Submitting the form is just the first step in a longer process.

The backstory

Alicia Fernnadze is a mother, a rapper and an entrepreneur who runs her own to-go restaurant. A Detroiter, through and through she grew up in northwest Detroit in a neat, single-family home. Her father, a General Motors line worker, pinched pennies for years to buy it.

When her parents moved to a new place across town in 2013, they offered her the house on Blackstone Street. Wanting to raise her daughter where she grew up, Fernnadze moved in but struggled to keep up with Detroit’s property taxes, which are among Michigan’s highest.

In 2017, she and her 3-year-old daughter lost the home over $3,000 in unpaid taxes. They moved in with her parents. To make the arrangement work, she had her beloved pit bull, Red, euthanized.

Two years later, the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office auctioned off the house for $11,000 — an $8,000 profit.

Stories like hers are common in Detroit. Wayne County made $20 million from about 2,400 tax foreclosures citywide between 2015 and 2020, according to an analysis by Alex Alsup, vice president of research and development at Regrid, a property data company. This figure only includes homes believed to be owner-occupied at the time of foreclosure.

Recent Michigan Supreme Court rulings said it’s unconstitutional for counties to keep money over and above the taxes owed on properties — and that former homeowners can claim those profits from previous tax auctions. The court decisions apply to the whole state, but Outlier is focusing only on properties in Detroit.

Since her eviction, Fernnadze has kept an eye on her old house, and she stays in touch with friends from the block. She said the house hasn’t been occupied since she left, a fact that leaves her furious with the people who profited from her loss.

“You guys come get my home, take it to auction, put me and my toddler daughter out, and the house just sits,” she said. “It’s like, what were you even doing it for?”

Who qualifies

Did you lose a home to tax foreclosure in Detroit between 2015 and 2020?

To find out if Wayne County could owe you money, text your address to 67485, our TXT OUTLIER service. You can also look up your former address at https://regrid.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/0d80418c490d4e27a29a1246db41e978.

If you’re not on the list but you experienced a tax foreclosure during that period, reach out to us anyway. Errors in county property data may exclude eligible homeowners. 

Appearing on the list also doesn’t guarantee a payout. Given the low quality of the data, Alsup said there are a few reasons the homeowner identified in his database could be incorrect.

The only way to find out for sure is to submit a claim form before the March 31 deadline.

How to claim the money

Submitting the form is the first step in a monthslong, complicated process.

We’ve heard warnings that unscrupulous lawyers might try to get a share of the money by offering to help people fill out the necessary forms — but there are plenty of Detroiters ready to assist at no charge.

Once Outlier reached her, Fernnadze asked for help. We found an old deed online through the county’s Register of Deeds that had the information she needed to complete the claim form. She went downtown and paid $25 to notarize it at a UPS Store (free notary services are also available at banks and credit unions, and various nonprofits in the city). From there, she went to the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office, where she placed it in a designated box. It can also be submitted by certified mail.

Next, the Treasurer is supposed to inform Fernnadze of what she’s owed by July 1, 2025. Then, she’ll need to file a motion in Wayne County Circuit Court by Oct. 1, after which a hearing date would be set.

For a more detailed description of the process, visit the Wayne County Treasurer’s website to fill out the form at https://www.waynecounty.com/elected/treasurer/auction.aspx.

Not justice, but better than nothing

An estimated 2,700 Detroiters are owed an average of $8,000 each — more than enough to make a real difference in peoples’ lives. Fernnadze said she’d use her payout to cover back taxes on her current house or to try to repurchase her childhood home, which remains tax delinquent under its current owner.

Still, the prospect of recovering money from a past foreclosure is bittersweet for many Detroiters. The Michigan Supreme Court’s rulings address only the county’s profits from foreclosures, not the deeper injustices of Detroit’s foreclosure crisis.

The money won’t erase the pain of eviction or losing a family home, and it will rarely come close to covering the financial losses caused by foreclosure in the city.

Fernnadze’s case is typical. Her childhood home is worth about $66,800 today — more than eight times what she is expected to receive from the county. Alsup estimates that if every eligible person submitted the form and followed through with the claims process, the treasurer could have to return $20 million in profits. Today, those homes are worth about $120 million.

“This is not compensation” for the injustices of the foreclosure crisis, said Sonja Bonnett, a housing specialist at the Detroit Justice Center whose home was foreclosed in 2014. “This is money that has always been owed to these people. But most of us shouldn’t have lost our homes in the first place.”

[i] The links embedded in this article can be accessed at https://outliermedia.org/wayne-county-detroit-tax-foreclosure-money/

A rosary hangs on the doorknob of the home that once belonged to Alicia Fernnadze, with “RIP Wise” spray-painted on the exterior in memory of her late fiancé. Photo credit: Cydni Elledge/Outlier Media
A rosary hangs on the doorknob of the home that once belonged to Alicia Fernnadze, with “RIP Wise” spray-painted on the exterior in memory of her late fiancé. Photo credit: Cydni Elledge/Outlier Media

Help us help Detroiters get their money. A group of Detroiters — including our team at Outlier — is working to help our neighbors reclaim money Wayne Co. owes them from tax foreclosure auctions.

If you’d like to help, send us an email at koby@outliermedia.org.

Koby Levin is the senior science reporter at Outlier Media. He believes curiosity is food for love, and love drives people to fight for their communities. He enjoys the many moods of the Detroit River.

Tags: DetroitHomeowners
Previous Post

Los temores de deportación generan efectos en cadena para los inmigrantes y sus comunidades

Next Post

Latino Freeze Movement

EL CENTRAL

EL CENTRAL

Related Posts

Community

Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

by EL CENTRAL
September 18, 2025
0

Detroit’s Latino community met with the Smithsonian to shape the Museo Móvil, a traveling museum honoring Latino history, culture, and...

Read moreDetails
Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide
Community

Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

by EL CENTRAL
September 18, 2025
0

Explore the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide—celebrating Latino history, labor roots, and community impact in Detroit’s auto industry.

Read moreDetails
Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries
Business

Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

by EL CENTRAL
September 18, 2025
0

Discover Hank Aguirre’s legacy: from Detroit Tigers All-Star pitcher to founder of Mexican Industries, a Latino-owned auto supplier in Detroit.

Read moreDetails
Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances
Community

Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

by EL CENTRAL
September 18, 2025
0

Detroit Lions’ Plaza de los Leones & Tigers’ ¡Fiesta Tigres! honor Latino Heritage Month with music, dance, art, food, and...

Read moreDetails
Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote
Community

Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

by Michael Gutierrez
September 18, 2025
0

Detroit’s Bagley-West Vernor corridor earns unanimous nomination for the National Register of Historic Places, unlocking up to 45% renovation tax...

Read moreDetails
A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.
Community

Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

by Michael Gutierrez
September 18, 2025
0

Tu voz, tu barrio, tu espacio | Your voice, your neighborhood, your space

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Latino Freeze Movement

Latino Freeze Movement

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Volunteers Needed for Refugee Resettlement in Michigan

Volunteers Needed for Refugee Resettlement in Michigan

February 14, 2024
Southwest Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

Why We Celebrate “CINCO DE MAYO, THE 5TH OF MAY”

May 2, 2024
MSHDA Opens $60 Million MI Neighborhood Applications

MSHDA Opens $60 Million MI Neighborhood Applications

April 4, 2024
Infamous Highwaymen Motorcycle Club Leader Pursues a Second Chance at Life

Infamous Highwaymen Motorcycle Club Leader Pursues a Second Chance at Life

February 1, 2024
Community and RuboFest 2022 

Community and RuboFest 2022 

0
“Vemos a México como un socio igualitario”

“Vemos a México como un socio igualitario”

0
Ford Hispanic and Latino Network Beautifies Clark Park

Ford Hispanic and Latino Network Beautifies Clark Park

0
Editorial Opinion “The Fifth, I take the Fifth”

Editorial Opinion “The Fifth, I take the Fifth”

0
Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

September 18, 2025

Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

September 18, 2025
Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

September 18, 2025
Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

September 18, 2025

Recent News

Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

September 18, 2025

Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

September 18, 2025
Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

September 18, 2025
Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

September 18, 2025
EL CENTRAL Hispanic News

Michigans #1. Oldest. Largest & Only
Bilingual Hispanic News for 33 Years.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Business
  • Classifieds
  • Community
  • Culture & Arts
  • Education
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Español
  • Events
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Latest News
  • Local News
  • Local Small Business
  • Music
  • National News
  • Opinion
  • Others
  • People
  • Politics
  • Resources
  • Restaurants
  • Sports
  • Throwbacks
  • World
  • World Cultures

Recent News

Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

September 18, 2025

Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

September 18, 2025
  • Latest Issue
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Menu Item
  • Created with EyeBreatheDesign

© 2022 EL CENTRAL HISPANIC NEWS

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Sections
    • Featured
    • Local News
    • Community
    • Culture & Arts
    • Español
    • Music
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Contact
  • Advertise

© 2022 EL CENTRAL HISPANIC NEWS