Wednesday, Aug 3 2011 10:28AM
Many Victorville, California homes have fallen into foreclosure, mainly due to a lack of jobs in the area.
Many Victorville, California residents are struggling to find employment opportunities, which has led several homeowners to lose their homes to foreclosure, according to a report by the Associated Press (AP).
A number of the city's businesses left when the recession hit, the AP states, leaving many residents without a source of income. The unemployment rate in Victorville is nearly 17 percent, the AP reported.
Without steady paychecks, numerous homeowners have been unable to pay their mortgages. A report by RealtyTrac shows one in 67 Victorville homes is in some stage of foreclosure.
"We need to have a huge expansion in order to have that glimmer of hope," Robin Schlosser, who runs a food bank in the city, told the AP. "The reality of it is, we need thousands of jobs. There's still not enough to meet the demand for the number of people living here and we still have families moving in because of affordable housing."
The report states the transformation of an old Air Force base into a commercial airport and industrial complex could provide many Victorville residents with jobs. Additionally, a high-speed rail project was recently announced, which also may supply residents with employment opportunities.