Foreclosure prevention workshop today

By JOE PERRY
Item Staff Writer
jperry@theitem.com

If you're at risk having your home foreclosed, help is on the way -- two free foreclosure prevention workshops are scheduled this month, with the first one slated for today.

The Homeownership Resource Center, a division of nonprofit organization Family Services Inc., announced recently that foreclosure prevention counseling workshops will be held at the South Sumter Resource Center on Manning Avenue. According to their Web site, the foreclosure prevention program is designed specifically for homeowners who are behind, or anticipate getting behind on mortgage payments.

South Sumter Resource Center Director Lana Odom -- a HUD certified housing counselor, and one of the workshop's facilitators -- said people need to arrive at 9 a.m. to register. Folks need to bring last year's tax return, their most recent mortgage statements, a recent paycheck stub, utility bills, checking and savings account statements, and copies of all pertinent expenditures.

The workshop will begin at 10 a.m., she said, and people will be required to write a hardship letter explaining their situation as well as work on a budget. If they are unable to attend today's workshop, there is another one scheduled for Nov. 20.

"It is a growing problem," she said, referring to foreclosures, which are on the rise in Sumter, the state and across the nation.

The idea, she said, is for people to get back on track with mortgage payments in order to stave off foreclosure and work out a realistic budget.

According to the Homeownership Resource Center's Web site, counselors can also offer advice and methods to address other financial issues that may add to mortgage payment delinquency, such as credit card debt, student loans in default and past medical bills. The foreclosure prevention program is available to all South Carolina residents free of charge regardless of income or value of home.

The foreclosure prevention counseling workshop will be held at the South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Avenue.

People are asked to arrive at 9 a.m. in order to register, and bring all neccessary aforementioned paperwork. Children cannot be accommodated during the workshop. For more information, call 1-888-320-0350 (also to register for Nov. 20 workshop) or visit www.ForeclosureHelpforSC.org