(BOISE) Foreclosures. Evictions. Homelessness. Behind the headlines, struggling homeowners and renters in Idaho face an uncertain future and a complex world of legal forms and bank notices. A free, statewide service can help those who find themselves in the middle of the housing crisis. Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA), in partnership with Idaho Partners for Homebuyer Education, Inc., offers free, confidential housing counseling to renters, homeowners, and other Idahoans who need to find a real-time solution to a housing situation.

"It all happened so fast," says Juanita Ramirez, a Nampa mother of two who faced foreclosure after losing an income in a divorce. When she called IHFA’s housing counseling service, a foreclosure sale was already scheduled for her home and her lender offered little help.

"My IHFA housing counselor explained what the foreclosure process is and what I needed to do," says Ramirez. "When my lender gave me the run around, the counselor stepped in and contacted them directly to work out a solution. The IHFA counselor just ran with it and got my situation figured out. It was amazing."

For IHFA housing counselors, every phone call is a snapshot of the individual impact of an increasingly wide-spread problem. In the three-month period from January to March 2009, IHFA counseled 679 clients. During the same time span in 2008, when the housing crisis was beginning to emerge, 217 people were counseled.

"Housing is one of the most important factors contributing to the well-being of Idaho families," says Gerald Hunter, IHFA president and executive director. "As more and more people statewide are affected by the housing downturn, we want people to know they can turn to IHFA’s housing counseling service to learn about options available for their individual situation."

The National Delinquency Report by the Mortgage Bankers Association listed 7,461 Idaho homes in some stage of foreclosure by the end of 2008, a figure that nearly doubles the 3,923 foreclosures initiated in 2007.

"We encourage early intervention in the first stages of a problem. That’s a key factor in finding solutions," says Tracy Childers, an IHFA loan administrative officer who oversees homeowners receiving housing counseling services who have loans with other lenders. "There may not always be a solution, however we can help with other resources. We might not always stop foreclosure, but we can try to open other doors for people."

IHFA’s free housing counseling offers guidance, but not financial assistance.

"The situation is frustrating, no one wants to lose a home," says Ramirez. "My advice is to keep calling your lender until you get an answer, and get someone you trust to advocate for you. My IHFA housing counselor knew who to contact and how to get through the red tape. I’m grateful for her."

If you are concerned about losing your home or have a housing need, call the free statewide housing counseling hotline at 1-877-888-3135.

People in the following situations may qualify for housing counseling:

• Anyone interested in purchasing a home
• Anyone who is a renter
• Anyone homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• Anyone having difficulty paying rent or utilities
• Anyone having trouble making mortgage payments
• Seniors considering accessing the equity in their home (reverse mortgages)

There is never a fee to get assistance or information from lenders or a HUD-approved counselor about making your home affordable. If you are interested in obtaining additional information about available loan modifications and refinance opportunities, visit www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.

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Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing business organization, provides funding for affordable housing in Idaho communities where it is most needed and when it is economically feasible. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ihfa.org.