It’s been nearly 13 years since Grace Alexander bought her home in Newark, where four generations of her family currently live. But Bank of America is now trying to kick her and her loved ones to the curb. She is not alone: New Jersey has the second highest rate of foreclosures in the nation, with 88,000 families losing their homes since 2008.



For the past several months, Grace, a CNA at Morris Hills Center in Morristown, NJ, has been bringing her story to everyone who will listen, including elected leaders, faith and community groups, fellow 1199SEIU members, and the media.



Her story made headlines on July 9 when she hosted a press conference on the steps of her front porch. Flanked by some of New Jersey’s most influential politicians—including State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono as well as all four Democratic candidates for U.S. Senator--Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Congressmen Frank Pallone and Rush Holt, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker—Grace explained her ordeal:



“When the economy crashed, I lost one of my three jobs and shortly after that one of my clients passed away. Suddenly I was left with only one job, a family to support, and a mortgage to pay. And it wasn’t long after until I couldn’t afford my mortgage. I reached out to Bank of America immediately. I told them my situation and they transferred me to another department. And then to another department, and then another.”



Grace says that she never would have agreed to the adjustable rate mortgage she was offered by the bank had they been honest and upfront with her about the terms of her loan. But despite Bank of America’s attempts to ignore Grace and force her into giving up her house, she isn’t backing down.



“I’ve been battling Bank of America for nearly four years now. Their behavior doesn’t surprise me, but it does strengthen my resolve to fight Bank of America with all that I have. They will have to drag me out in handcuffs before I turn over everything I’ve worked so hard for!”



With 1199ers, her community and her elected representatives standing by her side, Grace is determined to continue her fight for justice and make sure that big banks know that there’s a price to pay when they put profits ahead of the needs of hardworking people.