This is Tawanda Hall. She fell $900 behind on a property-tax payment plan. So the government seized her home—which sold for *$308,000.* Hall got nothing. The Supreme Court said stealing home equity is illegal. But some states are *still* trying to defy the law. A thread.

After Hall & her husband fell behind on their taxes, the government added penalties & interest. The total came to $22,642. The couple couldn't pay that. So Oakland County, Michigan seized their home to collect the debt. But then things got much worse for the family. /2

The county sold the Halls’ home to the city for a minimum bid—about $23,000, roughly the debt amount. The city then gave their home to a government-managed nonprofit for $1. That nonprofit sold the house for $308,000, and kept the ~$286,000 profit. This is not a joke. /3

The county sold the Halls’ home to the city for a minimum bid—about $23,000, roughly the debt amount. The city then gave their home to a government-managed nonprofit for $1. That nonprofit sold the house for $308,000, and kept the ~$286,000 profit. This is not a joke. /3

In 2020, the supreme court in Michigan—where the Halls lived—ruled that home equity theft is illegal. That case involved Uri Rafaeli, who underpaid his tax bill by $8.41. So the government seized his home, sold it, and kept the profit. Over an $8 bill. /4

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed: Home equity theft is illegal. That case centered around 94-year-old Geraldine Tyler, who fell behind on her taxes. So the government seized her Minneapolis condo, sold it—and, once again, *kept the profit.* Just bonkers. /5

In other words, Michigan knows home equity theft is illegal. But the state claims it found a legal loophole to continue stealing. How? By doing what it did to the Halls: funneling seized homes to a city-run nonprofit—then having *that* group sell them, often for big profits. /6

But there’s good news. Last month the Michigan Supreme Court gave the state a reality check. The justices reiterated the obvious: the government can’t keep up this scheme—seizing people's homes & sneakily stripping them of their equity. It's theft. /7

Hopefully Hall & those like her will get their money back one day, although some things you can't recover. Her husband had pneumonia when they lost their home. He rushed back to work too soon, as the family was desperate. There, he fell, suffered a brain injury, and died. /8

Michigan is one of several states trying to evade the law. They passed a wild debt-collection law that makes it nearly impossible to get your equity back. Ask Chelsea Koetter. She fell $3,863 behind on taxes, lost her home & the govt kept the $102,636 profit. Why? Because.../9