http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_459_Foreclosed.mp3 Shawn Howell and his family were thrilled when they bought their dream house - then they lost it to foreclosure. Plone 2.0 http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_459_Foreclosed.mp3/logo.jpg http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_459_Foreclosed.mp3 <h4>FORECLOSED</h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/621a881f602c564f158d7efb65988436" alt="Shawn Howell's family" height="126" width="100" />Shawn Howell and family in front of their house - before it was foreclosed, photo credit: Newsweek</p><p>National foreclosure rates are up nearly 60% from this time last year. Nevada, Florida and California have been hardest hit. In California alone, there were more than 57,000 foreclosures.<br /></p><p>Shawn Howell lives in Kentucky. Just before he went to Iraq, he and his wife felt ready to buy a bigger house for their family. Then Shawn came home and his adjustable rate mortgage got 'adjusted'. Even with Shawn working two jobs and his wife running a home business, they simply couldn't make the payments. They also couldn't sell the house.</p><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/a0ddc745ca0078cdb64a44ea3f6aba79" alt="Shawn Howell" height="100" width="100" />Shawn Howell</p><p>They weren't surprised when the foreclosure notice arrived. Now they're living in a small mobile home. Shawn talks with Dick about the experience and his plans for the future.  <br /></p><ul><li>Learn more about <a href="http://nw.org/network/neighborworksprogs/foreclosuresolutions/default.asp" target="_self">community assistance for foreclosure</a></li><li>Learn <a href="http://www.hud.gov/foreclosure/index.cfm" target="_self">how to avoid foreclosure</a></li></ul><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a><br /><br /><h4>Debt Collector</h4><p><img class="image-left" src="../graphics/creditdebt.jpg" alt="Credit Debt" height="100" width="100" />Americans are burying themselves in debt--and that makes big business for debt collectors. Hank Babb has worked the job for 24 years, and has plenty of stories about how he gets all kind of people to pay up.</p><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a><br /> Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:00:00