COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With growing unemployment and an unsteady economy, many Central Ohioans are having trouble paying their bills, are defaulting on car loans, can't pay their credit card bills and are facing foreclosure.
Credit counselors are known for helping people pay off debt, but they could help you save your home, NBC 4's Tanya Hutchins reported.
Karen Southern faced foreclosure after a heart attack and thousands of dollars in medical bills.
"It was robbing one to pay the other, credit people calling, hospitals wanting their money. It was just terrible. I can't work enough hours," Southern said.
She already worked two jobs to pay her bills, so a friend referred her to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Columbus.
"Then, we actually network with their loan service on their mortgage and try to modify that loan to make it more affordable for the client to be able to stay in the house. Our mission is to keep people from going into foreclosure," said Rich Call, of CCCS.
Southern saved $300 a month and after a probationary period, her loan is now back in her name.
The best part, she said, is that the help she received was free.
"It has meant a lot. I get my home. I can't have anything cheaper than what I pay here," Southern said.
Counselors said that if you're facing foreclosure, the time to act and call them is now.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
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