State expands foreclosure aid

Talk about it

ST. PAUL – Minnesotans facing home foreclosure may attend workshops with lenders to work out their financial problems.

However, Gov. Tim Pawlenty won’t go as far as others and mandate such meetings.

Foreclosure counseling workshops already are available, but Pawlenty on Monday announced an expansion as the state works with the private Minnesota Home Ownership Center.

Workshops are scheduled in the Twin Cities area, and Pawlenty announced they will be added in Duluth, St. Cloud and Rochester.

“The American dream is threatened by this foreclosure and mortgage crisis,” Pawlenty said.

Lawmakers are considering several incremental anti-foreclosure bills after thousands of Minnesotans began finding themselves unable to repay their mortgages. In many cases, those facing problems did not earn enough money to repay their loans.

The governor said he supports most of the anti-foreclosure bills, but not one that would delay foreclosures for a year.

The bill, by Rep. Jim Davnie of Minneapolis and Sen. Ellen Anderson of St. Paul, both Democrats, would lead to more expensive credit for other Minnesotans, the Republican governor said.

Tags: news, foreclosure