State Mortgage Workshop in Champaign Saturday

The state of Illinois is reaching out to those struggling to make home payments or even face foreclosure.

Free counseling is available in Champaign Saturday through the Mortgage Relief Project, part of Governor Pat Quinn’s Foreclosure Prevention Network.

Louis Pukelis is a spokesman for the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. 

He says the 4-hour event at Parkland College will help connect homeowners to lenders and housing counselors.

"The housing counselors are kind of like having a lawyer when you go to court," he said.  "The housing counselor becomes your advocate when working with your lender to either change the terms of your mortgage, or even helping work with you and your lender to perhaps lower your mortgage payments."

Pukelis says counselors can also run through state and federal laws that slow down the foreclosure process. 

The workshop is hosted by Champaign Senator Mike Frerichs and Urbana Representative Naomi Jakobsson.  It’s from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Lecture Hall L-111 at Parkland College. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended by calling 1-800-532-8785.