The following letter is from Kimberly Pierce, a resident of Lee's Summit, MO, who focuses on the lack of help for herself and neighbors who were stuck with shoddily built homes. Agencies who she thought might be able to help her said their hands were tied because of lack of laws. Legislators in Kansas and Missouri have known about these problems - bankruptcies, homes that could not be lived in, threats and lawsuits to shut up homebuyers who complain - yet continue to do nothing. One Senator says about such legislation "It isn't going to happen."

NeighborhoodNet has been receiving and publishing emails about shoddy home construction and questionable financing practices from home buyers in both Kansas and Missouri, along with letters describing the situation in other states. I believe our government agencies, including legislators, should be going out of their way to protect citizens from abuses. This is not happening in Kansas and Missouri.

[If you wish to voice your opinions, these email addresses go to Kansas legislators (badhome@nbrhd.net) and Missouri legislators (badhomemo@nbrhd.net). The email addresses were established by NeighborhoodNet and HADD to ease communications between citizens and public officials. NeighborhoodNet also receives the letters, but will not publish them without the author's permission].

Here is Kimberly's letter to the Missouri Senate. A similar one was sent to the Kansas House:

To the Members of the Committee for Senate Bill 635

I understand that this Committee is passing over the Senate Bill 635. I would urge you to reconsider doing that. You do not know how many families have been affected and or destroyed by the shoddy work and the bogus financing that goes on with the Home Builders in the state of Missouri and Kansas - there is proof is you ask for it

I personally do know - as you see I was one of those unfortunate ones that was had by one of your local home builder (in Lee's Summit, MO) when I first move into town. I want you to know that I took my complaint to the Department of Finance, The Banking Commission, The Attorney General of Both States and to several higher up Governmental Agencies to get help with my home and the financing I received (most I did not know about) some was even Forged. And I am here to tell you that I was told basically that we see what they are doing but "There is no Law To STOP Them."

I want you to know that I personally took many complaints from homeowners in my neighborhood and turned them in to the same agencies that I turned mine into and I know of another lady that did the same as I did, so there can be no doubt that there where other homeowners with the same problems and this is not just a one homebuilder problem, there are several that use the same practices to sell their homes.

Without this Law to help protect the homeowners, you will have more than your fair share of foreclosures and legal problems. And Personally I would say that this will send a message across the country. That if you want to pay more for your home than what it is worth and you don't mind if we forge your name to some of your loan documents and you want no promise that your home will still be standing in a year or two, Then by all means come on into Kansas and Missouri, we have a home for you.

It sends a strong message that the people put into Power to Protect the Residents and their families, Could care less about the People. I urge you to reconsider Passing this Bill and Doing what is Right.

Kimberly Pierce