In a state that ranked sixth in the nation last year in home foreclosures, some local organizations are offering homeowners a helping hand.

Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Mackinac County now offers a variety of options to residents facing possible foreclosure, including counseling and advice.

Lori Pieri, executive director and counselor at HOME, said the most important thing is to call and get help before getting behind in mortgage payments.

"The earlier the better, but it is never too late," Mrs. Pieri said. "It is much better to do it earlier."

Most borrowers don't realize their house can be sold at a Sheriff Sale as soon as 90 days after they miss a payment, she said. Before this time, homeowners can take advantage of many options, including forbearance, loan modification, and even bankruptcy.

Even after the Sheriff Sale, Mrs. Pieri said there are options to get the property back and possibly set up an affordable monthly payment.

"It is still worth making the phone call," she said. "Every case is different."

Most of the government-funded programs offering help require that it be a first mortgage and that a letter of explanation be sent to the lender, however, Mrs. Pieri said anyone facing difficulties in paying their mortgage should seek assistance before it's too late.

Mrs. Pieri can be contacted in St. Ignace at 643-6239 or at home@lighthouse.net.

Although HOME works mainly with people with an income between $15,000 and $55,000, Mrs. Pieri said she could point others toward programs like HOPE NOW, which offers alternative remedies to those whose income exceeds $55,000.

HOPE NOW defines itself as "an alliance between counselors, mortgage companies, investors and other mortgage market participants." These members include counselors like ACORN Housing, mortgage companies like Citigroup, trade associations like Consumer Bankers Association , investors like Fannie Mae, and mortgage insurance companies like Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation.

Nationally, HOPE NOW has grown from 175,000 homeowners who entered repayment with modified loans in January 2008 to 249,000 in March 2009.

Assistance through the HOPE NOW program can be reached through the HOPE Hotline at 1- 888-995-4673 or www.hopenow. com.

The Michigan State University Extension, through its community and economic development program, provides resources to HOME, including Web sites and published material. The Extension also provides counseling for those ready to declare bankruptcy and simple budgeting help.

Local help is also available for those considering a home purchase.

Home Purchase Workshop

The Extension will offer a Home Buyer Pre-Purchase Workshop from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the St. Ignace Public Library. At this workshop, interested home buyers will get information on assessing readiness to buy a home, working with real estate agents, the home inspection and purchase process, financing, budgeting and credit, and basic home and financial maintenance.

Advance registration for the workshop is requested by phone at 643-7307.

Members of the Sault Ste. Tribe of Chippewa Indians can take advantage of programs like the tribe's Individual Development Account, in which every dollar saved toward the purchase of a home is matched with $2.50 by the program.

For more information on this and other programs for tribe members, contact Ryan Madigan or Dana Patrick with the Sault Tribe Housing Authority at (906) 495-1450.