Hope on the way for foreclosure victims

Hernando County will receive some $600,000 in federal stimulus money to help people facing eviction through foreclosure not become another homeless statistic.
As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $1.6 billion is being made available to assist in such cases, including nearly $2 million dollars earmarked for Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Sumter counties.
"Agencies in all of our counties are receiving daily calls from people asking for help as they are losing their homes," B.E. Thompson, president of Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc., said in a statement.
"Need for help is up, donations are down, and shelter beds are full. These dollars will help prevent people from becoming homeless and to help get housing for some of those who have lost their housing," Thompson said.
Mid-Florida Executive Director Barbara Wheeler said Citrus County will receive over $400,000, Lake County, over $800,000, and Sumter County, close to $150,000.
There were 272 foreclosure cases filed in Hernando County in April, according to the county clerk's office. Through Thursday of this month, already 243 were filed.
For more information, call Wheeler at (352) 860-2308 or e-mail her at mfhc@tampabay.rr.com