Foreclosure prevention help just a phone call away

CINCINNATI - Most of Tom Croweak’s waking hours at his Springfield Township home are spent pouring over the Yellow Pages and calling companies looking for work.

It’s been two years since his job as head of maintenance for a retirement community evaporated.

“Usually when I lost a job, I find another job within a couple of months,” he said Tuesday. “This time, it’s been nowhere near that. It’s been a long, long drawn out search.”

As Croweak’s income dwindled, so did his ability to pay his $1,500 monthly mortgage to U.S. Bank and other bills. Foreclosure was not far away.

“I was ready to lose the house,” he admitted. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

That’s when he was given the phone number to the Home Ownership Center.

Croweak called and found he was eligible for the Restoring Stability program.

Home Ownership Center President Rick Williams said the program provides temporary cash assistance for mortgage payments and can begin the process toward mortgage renegotiation.

“The state is providing dollars on your behalf,” Williams said. “Suddenly, there’s an incentive for that lender just to accept a package because they receive cash quickly as part of the deal.”

The Croweak case is typical of callers to the Home Ownership Center’s Foreclosure Prevention Phone-A-Thon, which began Tuesday and runs 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Homeowners behind on their mortgages can call 1-877-7BUZZUS (877-728-9987) and be connected with an experienced counselor.

That person will take detailed income and personal information and begin a case file on the caller to see if he or she qualifies for assistance.

Over 2,000 people called the 2010 Phone-A-Thon and about 400 people were successful in keeping their homes.

Croweak was able to get financial assistance to get his mortgage current and he’ll get additional help in the future while he completes his job search.

That’s important with the holidays just around the corner.

“It means everything because really nobody wants to lose their home,” he said. “It’s a warm feeling.”