More home owners are struggling to make house payments

Crushing Sales: More home owners are struggling to make house payments: "By the time a deputy or process server tapes a note to a house telling the owners of the foreclosure, it's going to be difficult for them to save their home.

'If they would contact me when they're getting notices from the bank, I can help them,” said Becky Gomez, a counselor at the Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency in Cadillac.

When in a bind, people need to realize what help is available and not neglect a house payment in favor of other bills, officials said.

'There is utility assistance but it's really hard to get financial assistance with your mortgage,” said Jesse Fitzgibbon, community services representative for the NMHSA in Traverse City."