KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The threat of foreclosure drove hundreds of people to call for action to save their homes, and those calls are being answered one by one. Our foreclosure experts answered more than 700 calls and e-mails during our all day push Monday to keep metro families in their homes.
Tuesday, counselors began setting up immediate appointments because the clock is ticking.
Calls came into NBC Action News on Monday, and now calls of hope are ringing in homes across the metro.
Certified housing counselors at HomeFree-USA are setting up face to face appointments to get down to business.
"Several of these individuals were told they couldn't be helped because they were current on their mortgage payments which is stupid," housing counselor Pat Harris said.
She knows that couldn't be further from the truth -- there are programs helping people who are current.
Counselors say lenders and scammers are sending the wrong signal, so homeowners didn't make the call for help until they saw the faces of change on television.
"Misinformation can destroy you," Harris said.
Many of the callers have high interest rates, lost their job, or they're struggling with medical bills.
"Many times the medical issues directly follow the job loss," Harris said.
"It's no different than a death. To lose your house is like someone died -- you grieve," Housing Information Center Executive Director Pat Wilkins said.
Counselors at the housing information center say the quicker you work through that grief, the higher chance your home can be saved. Missouri is a difficult state because time is not on your side. Foreclosures don't go through the court system.
"Voters need to do something to change that you can lose your house in a matter of 90 days," Wilkins said.
The day you find out your financial life is changing is the day you need to pick up the phone and get help.
When you call for help you need to be patient. I'm i'm getting lots of emails with questions about when you will hear from the agency. It will take up to 48 hours -- and you can always call the agency to follow-up as well.
Kansas OrganizationsEl Centro, Inc. Kansas City, KS 913-677-0100
Harvest America Kansas City, KS 913-342-2121
Missouri OrganizationsCatholic Charities KCMO 816-221-4377
Greater Kansas City Housing Information Center KCMO 816-931-0443
HomeFree-USA KCMO 816-822-7241
Legal Aid of Kansas City KCMO 816-474-6750
NHS of Kansas City KCMO 816-822-7703 ext. 215
You also need to be proactive and start gathering your documents to prepare for a meeting with a counseling agency. You'll need your original loan documents if you have them, recent loan statement, paystubs, and two years of tax returns along with other agency specific documents.
