HOW SOME COMMUNITIES HANDLE THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS

NEWSDAY - Brookhaven: Banks must register, maintain foreclosed homes

If you live next door to an abandoned home, or one is on your block, what are the legal ramifications if you and/or your neighbors maintain the abandoned home themselves because the town or municipality does not take prompt action?

In the 1970's, New York City officials had issues when individuals or neighborhood groups took matters into their own hands and created community gardens. At first, local government did not support these "self-help" methods.