Distressed Homeowners' Top Priorities: Food Assistance and Help With Heating Costs

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., March 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the economic downturn continues, more homeowners lagging on their mortgage payments are looking for help with basic needs.

These are the findings of MortgageKeeper Referral Services, Inc., the developer of a unique database that connects users with more than 6,000 qualified nonprofit and government agencies.  More than 1,500 homeowners connect with the database every day to find local assistance in 20 different service categories—from child care to prescription assistance, from employment services to income tax help.

Recent data shows that 20% of homeowners who access the database are searching for heating/utility assistance and 18% need food assistance.

"Once basic needs like food and heating satisfied, homeowners can focus their energies on job searches and housing," says Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, President of MortgageKeeper.  "Our database gets answers to homeowners fast, getting to the root cause of their loan delinquency.  Hopefully the end result is a homeowner that has both their financial and personal needs met so that they can stay in their home."

Counselors and servicers who subscribe to MortgageKeeper's database provide homeowners with a list of exhaustively researched, best-in-class nonprofit and government agencies in seconds.  Often the agencies are located just a few miles from the homeowner.

MortgageKeeper Referral Services helps more than 40,000 families find answers every month.  Clients include the Homeownership Preservation Foundation's 888.995.HOPE hotline, Ocwen Loan Servicing, CredAbility, and Money Management International.  For more information and an online demo, visit www.mortgagekeeperdirect.com.  

About MortgageKeeper Referral Services:  Since 2005, we have connected individuals in financial distress to valuable, reputable, community services.  Homeowners with access to outside resources have additional opportunities to cure default, benefiting themselves, as well as servicers and investors.  www.mortgagekeeperdirect.com.

SOURCE MortgageKeeper Referral Services