Volunteers try to help to forestall foreclosures

9/21/2007

Lucas County officials and United Way volunteers yesterday canvassed two Toledo neighborhoods that have high rates of foreclosures to invite residents to a special program designed to help those in danger of losing their homes.

Neighborhoods in the 43609 and 43605 ZIP Codes face the highest foreclosure rates in the area, county officials said.

The volunteers hung bright green door hangers inviting residents to Northwest Ohio Borrower Outreach Day between 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday at Owens Community College's Perrysburg Township campus.

The Borrower Outreach Day, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Commerce, will put borrowers and those worried about the potential of foreclosure in contact with major Ohio lending institutions.

Borrowers will be able to receive loan counseling, meet with loan providers privately, and learn about refinancing, all on site.

Similar days have been held in Cleveland and Columbus, where more than 300 homeowners met with lenders, a state spokesman said.

TARTA will provide free bus service from downtown to Owens Tuesday as part of the event.