Local officials are trying to help people from defaulting from their mortgages. This is all part of the Stay In Your Home campaign, backed by Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns.             

The COVID pandemic has complicated the battle against zombie homes and the right to preserve home ownership.

Right now, almost 3,000 Erie County homes are in jeopardy of foreclosure. Officials expect that number will rise as the state and federal moratoriums have ended.

So what kind of resources are out there to help you avoid losing your home?

Belmont Housing Resources of Western New York says free services and legal help are available and to be weary of predatory representatives offering solutions to your problems.

“As things go into public record, a lot of unscrupulous agencies say they are going to try and fix your foreclosure issues and they are going to ask you for money to fix it,” Sandy Becker, from Belmont Housing Services, said. “Please do not do that. That’s a scam.”

Kearns just began to push this campaign because home mortgage default notifications are in the process of being sent out to those who have not been making their mortgage payments.

You can find more information here.

Kearns is running for re-election this year. He will face off against Melissa Hartman in the upcoming primary.