DETROIT (AP) -- Sheriff Warren Evans is stopping the sale of foreclosed homes in Wayne County. The moratorium is to start with the next scheduled sheriff's sale on Wednesday.
Evans said Monday he believes the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program allows him to halt the sales until efforts to modify delinquent mortgages have been exhausted. Lenders still can foreclose on homes, but those homes cannot be sold under the moratorium.
Evans says he will ask other sheriffs across Michigan to follow suit. He says between 300 and 400 foreclosed homes come up for sale each week in Wayne County, which includes Detroit.
Evans is one of 15 candidates running in a special Detroit mayoral primary on Feb. 24.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
