America’s Seniors More at Risk of Foreclosure

Although the past U.S. housing crisis left plenty of people struggling to keep their homes, none were as affected as the American senior population. A 2011 survey identified homeowners over 75 as having the highest foreclosure rate for people over 50. According to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the percentage of seniors with mortgage debt increased from 22 percent in 2001 to 30 percent a decade later. In that same time period, the rate more than doubled among those aged 75 and older, from 8.4 percent to a staggering 21.2 percent.

Molon Labe: When Someone Comes to Take Your House

Molon labe—they may seem like two unassuming words, but they carry huge impact. These words are reportedly what the Spartan General-King Leonidas said in reply to Xerxes, the Persian Emperor, when the latter demanded Leonidas and his 300-strong army to lay down their arms and surrender. In English, molon labe means ‘come and get it’, a classical expression of defiance.

Molon labe has been used many times since, becoming the signature battle cry for people who wage war against oppression and refuse to be trampled by men who would deprive them of their God-given right to live free. For homeowners facing foreclosure, molon labe is not only a battle cry—it’s a state of mind.