Central New York Veteran on the Verge of Losing His Home

            The Scholefields fell behind in their taxes due to medical expenses and now are in a hole they can't seem to get out of.  They say they received a notice on June 8^th informing them that they were behind on tax payments, and could lose their home if they don't pay up.  Jeff Scholefield tells me he has tried every option to save his house and now does not know where to turn.

Mr. Scholefield has lived in the same home with his wife and kids for 16 years.  And come November 16th, the house could be taken away. "It's a shame.  The house is paid for, we take care of it, we're good neighbors, and they're just going to come take it away from us," he says.

            Scholefield is now disabled - unable to work, and so is his wife. He says he fell behind on his taxes about two years ago due to medical expenses.  In order to work out a payment plan with the city, he needs to have his taxes paid in full--which of course is the reason his home is in jeopardy in the first place.  He says there is a $3 million grant from the Veteran Outreach Center to help veterans, which Scholefield thought was the answer to his problems. "We were told we were disqualified, Scholefield says, "because we own our house.  He says the grant would pay for a moving company, find an apartment for the family, and get them on their feet, but only once they lose their home.

A native Utican, Mr. Scholefield does not want to leave.  He says he's reached out to area officials, different banks, veteran outreach programs, and has come up with nothing. But he says he's not ready to give up just yet. "I'm hurt, he says, "I'm upset, I've been turned down so many times, my wife is ready to give up and say let's just go, but I want to stay here and fight.  They're going to have to drag me out of this house." 

The family says they're working with some city council members to see if there is anything elsa they can do.