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La Puente Woman Stages Bank Sit-In To Save Her Home

LA PUENTE (CBS) — A La Puente woman took drastic measures to save her home from foreclosure.
With help from a community organization, homeowner Rose Guiel staged an impromptu protest at the headquarters of One West Bank in Pasadena last Thursday.

"I wanted them to see a real life story, not just a number of people that they just kick out," Guiel told Joy Benedict, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9.

"I remember growing up saying 'you know, I'm gonna be this… I'm gonna have that' like any other kid and then here I am in a situation where I don't have it anymore," she added.

Guiel purchased her home seven years ago for $300,000, signing an adjustable rate mortgage.

She moved in with her brother, who helped out with the payments, and her disabled mother and father.

Then in 2009, Guiel's brother, Michael, was killed in a drive-by shooting. Without the second income, she quickly fell behind on her mortgage.

"Trying to cope with that and then also trying to make sure that I stay current, it was just too difficult of a task," she said.

And in the middle of what she thought was the process of getting a loan modification, her bank foreclosed.

"People are losing their homes and they're becoming homeless," Guiel said.

One West Bank could not comment on this case, calling it a private issue. However, they have agreed to a meeting with Guiel on Monday.

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