Mass. Homeowners Facing Foreclosure Offered Federal Relief

Homeowners in Massachusetts who are facing foreclosure could get some relief from the federal government. But the deadline for applying is this Friday.

The program was approved last year, but the Department of Housing and Urban Development only started accepting applications last month.

Rep. Barney Frank said he's upset the program has only been available for such a short time.

“I'm very frustrated, I'm very unhappy with HUD. And it would be tragic if HUD's incompetence led people who were eligible not to be able to get it,” Frank said.

And housing activist Bruce Marks fears that many who could qualify will miss out.

“To make a program that is supposed to benefit the homeowner so bureaucratic, so short term and so little notice that most homeowners will not be able to take advantage of it,” he said.

To qualify, homeowners must be at least three months behind on their payments either because their incomes have dropped or because they've lost their jobs.

-- For more information on how to apply, visit NeighborWorks America.