Chris Arnold

These are two of my colleagues, NPR reporters Quill Lawrence and Chris Arnold, and they're pulling up to a house.

Kind of the house, really, that's been at the center of this astonishing and, frankly, pretty bizarre problem that has been unfolding over the last couple years. They get out of the car, microphones recording, of course. How are you doing?

Kind of the house, really, that's been at the center of this astonishing and, frankly, pretty bizarre problem that has been unfolding over the last couple years. They get out of the car, microphones recording, of course. How are you doing?

Kind of the house, really, that's been at the center of this astonishing and, frankly, pretty bizarre problem that has been unfolding over the last couple years. They get out of the car, microphones recording, of course. How are you doing?

They're greeted by the homeowners, Ray and Becky Queen. Ray served in the army in Iraq.

They're greeted by the homeowners, Ray and Becky Queen. Ray served in the army in Iraq.

They're greeted by the homeowners, Ray and Becky Queen. Ray served in the army in Iraq.

When Chris first met Ray and Becky Queen, they were about to lose their house because somewhere in some governmental office, a decision was made about how to help veterans keep their homes during COVID, and it had gone catastrophically wrong.

When Chris first met Ray and Becky Queen, they were about to lose their house because somewhere in some governmental office, a decision was made about how to help veterans keep their homes during COVID, and it had gone catastrophically wrong.

When Chris first met Ray and Becky Queen, they were about to lose their house because somewhere in some governmental office, a decision was made about how to help veterans keep their homes during COVID, and it had gone catastrophically wrong.

Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Kenny Malone. Today on the show, we ride along with our colleagues at NPR as they uncover a single change to some wonky mortgage terms that not many people were paying attention to. The result of that change, tens of thousands of veterans were about to lose their homes because of a policy meant to help keep them in those homes.

Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Kenny Malone. Today on the show, we ride along with our colleagues at NPR as they uncover a single change to some wonky mortgage terms that not many people were paying attention to. The result of that change, tens of thousands of veterans were about to lose their homes because of a policy meant to help keep them in those homes.

Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Kenny Malone. Today on the show, we ride along with our colleagues at NPR as they uncover a single change to some wonky mortgage terms that not many people were paying attention to. The result of that change, tens of thousands of veterans were about to lose their homes because of a policy meant to help keep them in those homes.

Let's make sure everyone is rolling.

Let's make sure everyone is rolling.

Let's make sure everyone is rolling.

This is the most Chris Arnold way to start an interview. Oh, I'm sorry. The attorney general in another state is texting me about something else. Chris Arnold is a reporter for NPR's investigations team. He has been on the show many times before. And this particular story starts when Chris got a call from a lawyer.

This is the most Chris Arnold way to start an interview. Oh, I'm sorry. The attorney general in another state is texting me about something else. Chris Arnold is a reporter for NPR's investigations team. He has been on the show many times before. And this particular story starts when Chris got a call from a lawyer.

This is the most Chris Arnold way to start an interview. Oh, I'm sorry. The attorney general in another state is texting me about something else. Chris Arnold is a reporter for NPR's investigations team. He has been on the show many times before. And this particular story starts when Chris got a call from a lawyer.

Yes, COVID mortgage forbearance. When COVID hit, 20 million people lost their jobs, but we hoped it was going to be a temporary thing. And so Congress said, like, hey, look, if you're a homeowner and you're in trouble, you are allowed to temporarily pause your mortgage payments and not lose your home. That is forbearance. And it's become an important part of the crisis playbook.