DETROIT-- More than 1000 mortgagors threatened by foreclosure are holding on to their homes, thanks to a new Wayne County program.

 Since the debut of the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program in October, the free counseling service has intervened on behalf of 1039 families through mid-April. The lenders have agreed to reduce interest rates on the loans and trim monthly mortgage payments, allowing distressed  borrowers to keep their homes.

Last year, Wayne County led the state with almost 40,000 foreclosure filings, according to Realty Trac. Now the county's attempts to curb the trend is being watched by Lansing lawmakers as well as other cities hard-hit by foreclosures: Miami, LasVegas and Houston.

Wayne’s program is staffed with 40 counselors, who not only help mortgagors write an appeal to their lenders, but also show clients how to live within a smaller budget and prevent a future financial crisis.

The counselors, equipped with special hotlines to lenders, are able to get a faster and more cooperative response than borrowers usually get on their own.

The process is simple. To get help, mortgagors must first fill out an online application by going to www.fightmortgageforeclosure.com. If they do not have a computer, they may use a public one at a nearby library or at a program office.

The program has two offices, one at 640 Temple in Detroit and the second at 15100 Northline in Southgate.

Homeowners with an imminent sheriff’s sale date are the first to get help. Other borrowers are assisted according to their application dates.

Counselors will invite a dozen applicants at a time to a group class that explains the foreclosure process and has borrowers sign documents allowing staffers to contact lenders on their behalf.

Most of the mortgagors needing help have lost their jobs or had their hours or pay slashed. Others have fallen victim to illness and the resulting hospital bills.

If you have questions or need help please contact the program at 313-833-2948 or 877-693-6199.