LAS VEGAS -- The government's Making Home Affordable program says it has helped 22,000 Las Vegans modify their mortgages.
For the past few days, the program has held a workshop for struggling homeowners at the Gold Coast Hotel. Hundreds of people showed up looking for help.
In order to qualify for help, homeowners must have a mortgage payment that is more than 31 percent of their monthly gross income. The goal of the program is to help homeowners keep their homes from going into foreclosure.
Among those at the event was the Fox family.
"We went through a three-month trial, another three-month trial, and a six-month trial. They said we were close and to stop making payments," said Norena Fox, homeowner.
The Foxes say they have now received a notice that their home is going into foreclosure. They are frustrated saying the process to modify takes too long.
"I think the Treasury Department and the Obama administration are sensitive to those criticisms. We're really ramping up. We feel we are in a much better place than we were couple of months ago," said Alvina Mchale, U.S. Treasury Department.
The Making Home Affordable program which rolled out last March reports it has helped prevent foreclosures for 22,000 Las Vegans. They say, on average, homeowners are saving $588 on their monthly mortgage.
"We're both retired, both disabled," said Barbara Oliver. The Oliver's have been making their payments every month but say they can't afford much else.
"United Airlines went bankrupt and took the retirement now we don't have money, so we're drowning trying to keep everything, the mortgage, the food, the medications."
The couple met face to face with their lender and for them it turned out to be good news.
