WSJ: Sandpoint ‘Makeover’ Goes Kaput

Following his sister’s sudden death in 2004, Eric Hebert relocated to Sandpoint to raise her young twins. In an early 2006 episode of the show, the family home, described as a basement with a roof, was replaced with a multi-story house resembling a mountain lodge. Tyson Foods Inc. threw in a $50,000 check for Mr. Hebert and his family. “We’ll definitely be able to call this our home for ever and ever and ever,” Mr. Hebert said when he saw his new home for the first time. Public records show Mr. Hebert’s original mortgage was for $110,000 in September 2004. In January 2006–just before the show aired–he refinanced for $250,000. About a year later, came another refinance with Wells Fargo for $382,500. A notice of default was recorded in January 2009 and the home was foreclosed on in October—the first known foreclosure in the Extreme series’ history/ Dawn Wotapka , Wall Street Journal. More here . (SR File Photo/Kathy Plonka: Crowds gathered to check out the progress of the Sandpoint home being re-built by the “Extreme Makeover” crew on Nov. 15, 2005.)

Question:  Does ‘Extreme Makeover’ have an obligation to the families the show helps to do more than simply upgrade a home? Should the show also make sure that the finances are available to keep the family in the house?