To his credit, NPA says Martinez told their leaders that, "From the richest to the poorest we have rights to our housing no one has the right to take that away from us."

The group says it also received commitments from the three HUD leaders to follow up on the specific issues that it raised. The Secretary also told NPA that he will do what he needs to do to fulfill his responsibilities. But he would not agree to a future meeting with NPA.

Nevertheless, National People's Action says it remains committed to forming a partnership with the current HUD administration. "Martinez has a responsibility to form a partnership with NPA," said Marilyn Evans of Communities United For Action in Cincinnati, Ohio. "His job is to work with the people most affected by HUD's decisions we are the people."

Evans and Killingsworth said their group is "hopeful" Martinez will live up to what NPA sees as his responsibilities. But the women were not holding their collective breath.

"NPA came to DC to get a meeting with HUD Secretary Mel Martinez and that's exactly what we did," said Killingsworth. "We are hopeful that Martinez will fulfill his responsibilities but the proof is yet to come."

While NPA was at it, meanwhile, the group also paid an unannounced visit to the home of Wright Andrews, a housing lobbyist the group has dubbed "King of the Loan Sharks."

Andrews is the executive director of the Coalition for Fair and Affordable Lending as well as the chief lobbyist for the National Home Equity Mortgage Association and several lenders that NPA maintains prey on unsuspecting borrowers.

He also helped pen the legislation introduced by Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, that would preempt state and local laws against predatory lending. Many of National People's Action's local affiliates have campaigned for the passage of strong state regulations to stop abusive lending that would be worthless is a federal statute becomes law. However, lenders argue that the patchwork of local rules don't work in a market that is truly national in scope.