The Saturday session at Boynton Beach High School had all the appearances of a classroom in session as some took notes and others looked confused. More than 200 attended Home Preservation Forum - organized by United Way of Palm Beach County to spread awareness among the people about the foreclosure crisis. The speakers came from prominent financial centres like – Palm Beach County Commission on Affordable Housing and Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. Alphonso Jackson, the secretary of HUD also spoke on the occasion.

Onieda Rodriguez a single mother of three children working in the information sector is just one of the many who are worried .The economy is changing and there is no such thing as job security. Thus everyone wants to know how to keep intact the roof above the head.

After ballooning for five years the real estate market in South Florida began to turn sour. None of the predictions about the foreclosure clouds clearing turned out to be correct. Rather things became worse with the credit crunch and the mortgage companies tightening their strings. Jackson described the housing crisis as ‘a powerful shock to our economy’. Experts are loud in their apprehension that the clouds will get darker in 2008 because ARM’s are ready to rise. Jackson however assured the audience that no matter how fierce the foreclosure crisis becomes the people should understand that help is not far behind. The dreams will not be allowed to vanish.

Another victim of the times is Jose Varga who is trying desperately not to give up his house in West Palm Beach to foreclosure. He lost his job last October and after two months he defaulted. He was eager to learn at the Saturday session how he could salvage the situation. The value of his house did not have the required equity that would allow for a modification. It is a veritable trap. Even by selling off he cannot pay off leave alone have something left over to start life anew farther north.

Forums are being held across the country. Jackson attended one in Detroit where 200 people came telling the same harrowing tales. Most of the participants felt shy to talk about the financial mess. Many had fallen behind because of sudden unemployment coupled with rise in interests. Jackson reiterated that none want to see these hard working people get dispossessed of their hearths and homes.

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