I'm zig-zagging as fast as I can through this perverse fun house of psychological terrorism called “mortgage modification.” The biggest part of this game is that we feel that we are on our own. The protocol in place by the loan servicer has been to strip us of our good credit, our years of hard work and the building of our investment, not to mention our home. Try being a small business owner with no access to credit.

The servicers' methods of leaving us nowhere to turn – even as we've left no stone unturned in alerting the powers that be, the attorney blogs, the groups of like-minded citizens engaging in the fight of their lives – have left Americans bankrupt in so many ways. Until you learn, and understand, all the mind-blowing layers of corruption and deceit that so many are a part of, you feel as if you're losing your mind.

I think it is spiritual warfare – psychological warfare – which is why I'm not kidding when I call it the Hunger Games. To quote from the best-selling book and blockbuster film: "Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous."

So we call the "HOPE" hotline, which reports back to the banks. We somehow get a government grant to save our home and they pay it to the bank. We reach out to any and all government officials and we get back the same formulaic letters, the same inane questions. Apathetic dismissal or no calls returned at all. It's a test of tenacity in this robotic enterprise that has no shame, no humanity and no moral compass.

The city of Richmond, Calif., is attempting to implement eminent domain to do what the federal government should be doing. In response, the city is being shredded by the bank cartel and the mortgage lending industry, which has the might, the tenacity and the insatiable greed that buys off every legislator. The example of Richmond is a huge awakening for those of us in the belly of the crisis. We need to chew on the belly as much as we can and make as much noise and discomfort as possible. Call it acid reflux.

And the truth is we are making a difference, even if we can't immediately see or feel that change is underway. One thing that helps center your power, as a homeowner, is if you try to take some of the emotion out of it. Document everything. Record everything. Share and write your experience of corruption to the press and the media. We are showing patterns of abuse, we are building our cases, we are helping one another and we are turning the tide.

Networking with one another is key. Keeping a log of your efforts is key. Learning the industry lingo and the paths of appeal is key. We are educating each other, we are learning from each other, we are supporting each other in this cavernous journey for justice and the “hope” that our system of laws will not continue to betray us.

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