Federal money coming to Ohio to help unemployed on brink of foreclosure

CLEVELAND - About $600 million is headed to North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina  to help unemployed homeowners avoid foreclosure and $172 million of that money is headed to Ohio.

The Ohio Hardest-Hit Fund is expected to launch Sept. 27.  Assistance will be available statewide. Homeowners will access assistance through approved housing counseling agencies and an online application system when the program starts. The plan aims to help more than 18,000 people .

The faces of the foreclosure crisis are changing. It is moving from the city to the suburbs.  The majority of 2,300 foreclosure calls so far this year taken at the United Way's Call 211 First Call For Help have come from people in the suburbs.

People who were formerly considered middle to upper middle class are being hard hit by the foreclosure crisis because of job loss. There hasn't been much help for people in that situation until now.

"I am really excited that this, the Hardest-Hit Fund, will fill in some of the gaps," said Jeanne Morton, with the Cleveland Housing Network.

If you are unemployed or underemployed and facing foreclosure experts say although the program isn't expected to start until next month start the paperwork now. Go to www.savethedream.ohio.gov or call the hotline at 888-404-4674. You can also call your local 211.