Afree mortgage clinic to help Virginians avoid home foreclosure will be held June 14, coinciding with National Homeownership Month.

The clinic will be hosted by the Virginia Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, which was formed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in November to help protect and preserve homeownership in the commonwealth.

"If you have concerns about the health of your mortgage, I encourage you to sign up," Kaine said.

The clinic will include general foreclosure-prevention information, as well as individual foreclosure counseling sessions with certified housing counselors trained in loss mitigation and foreclosure prevention.

The clinic will last about 90 minutes, including a 30-minute general session and the free foreclosure counseling.

"Attendees will learn about the importance of contacting their lender at the first sign of trouble, working with a housing counselor, knowing their foreclosure-prevention options, prioritizing spending plans and avoiding foreclosure scams," said Susan Dewey, executive director of the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

Walk-ins are welcome at the clinic, but space for individual counseling sessions is limited and preregistration is encouraged.

"Don't ignore the symptoms of foreclosure," Dewey said. "Come learn what to say when you call your lender. The sooner you act, the better your chance of saving your home." -- Staff Report