Financial crisis help

FOLEY, Ala. - There are hundreds of houses in foreclosure in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, and Deborah Benton said sky-rocketing insurance rates could add more to the list.

"There are a lot more people who need help now who never needed help before, and they definitely do not know where to go." Benton said.

Benton is a Baldwin County Realtor, but she lost her home more than a year ago. Now she's trying to make sure it doesn't happen to others.

"We lost the house to foreclosure, and I felt like a victim and did not know where to go to get help, and I had looked." she said.

Benton organized Saturday's Financial Crisis Day program at the Foley Civic Center. The goal is to bring resources together under one roof for people who need help.

Kendrix Fairley was one of those who attended. He said times are tough for just about everyone. He said he picked up some good information at the event.

"Telling tem what they can do, what they can't do. The options before you get too far gone, and too far in debt, and you have to out right get out your house" Fairley said.

There was also information about loans, including federal money for low and medium income families.

"It's called USDA. It's directly thorught the government. It has payments based on your income, and it has provisions to defer payments if you get into trouble." Suzette Waller said.

A lot of homeowners are finding themselves in trouble. Credit counselor Sandra Dunaway says many people had questions about how to deal with rising insurance rates that are pushing their mortgage payments out of reach. She says there are some things you can do.

"Increase your deductible. That way your premium payment per month would go down, and look at other ways in which you can cut expenses in other areas to make up money so that perhaps you can pay into the escrow as opposed to it coming out of your monthly payment. As housing counselors that's one of th things that we try to help people do is lok at alternatives and some creative ways in making things work." Dunaway said.

Organizers are hoping to have similar events in the future aimed at helping folks weather the recession.

If you would like financial help visit the the organizations web site http://realestateagentsarepeople2.com/.