The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was established by the United States government in response to the subprime market collapse the rocked the global economy earlier this decade. “The point of TARP”, says Kristy Sinsara who heads the Consumer Advocacy Group, “was to ’stimulate the economy’ by giving money to ‘big businesses’.” Ostensibly, it was hoped that by bolstering the failing financial institutions, the benefits would trickle down to distress homeowners.

Many groups such as the Consumer Advocacy group, represented by Kristy Sinsara, say that TARP has failed in its objective. “We believe that the lenders have proven that they can NOT be trusted with the Troubled Asset Relief Funds set aside by the Obama Administration,” avers Kristy Sinsara.

Kristy Sinsara and her associates with the Consumer Advocacy Group maintain that, “the lenders (Bank of America especially) have proven that they will only use the money for their own personal gain and have absolutely no individual homeowners’ needs in mind. These lenders have essentially been given a blank check by our government that we as tax payers must pay for.”

The Consumer Advocacy Group’s claims stem from the fact that the many of the financial institutions who have receive Troubled Asset Relief Program funding, such as Bank of America, have not used this money for the stated purpose of keeping lines of credit open and extending relief to troubled homeowners suffering under the weight of sub-prime loans. Instead, claims Kristy Sinsara, these financiers have turned around to snatch up other floundering financial entities such as Countrywide and Meryl Lynch.

To sharpen the blow further, many of the executives of these failed institutions are receiving sizable bonuses or severance packages. These are the much discussed “golden parachutes” being handed out to the very individuals who’s poor decision making created this global economic crisis in the first place. It is this gross misuse of taxpayer money that has caused concerned groups like Kristy Sinsara and the Consumer Advocacy Group to stand up and voice their disproval.

Kristy Sinsara notes, “There are specific guidelines that must be met by each participant of the TARP program and these guidelines are NOT being adhered to… Bank of America used MILLIONS of dollars from government funding (that WE [the taxpayers] are all paying for) and gave it directly to the ‘chosen few’ they selected to receive ‘bailout’ funds. And now, if you as a homeowner call them for help, they will tell you why they ‘can’t’ help you.”

Groups such as Kristy Sinsara’s Consumer Advocacy Group have done much to raise public awareness of the issues surrounding the Troubled Asset Relief Program. They are also openly lobbying in Washington, pleading for change and relief on behalf of homeowners. As more and more homeowners find themselves teetering on the brink of foreclosure, Kristy Sinsara and others may find that the toughest battles are still ahead.

To find out more about the Consumer Advocacty Group you can visit Our Blog . Or you can get more information about Kristy Sinsara and her work.