Abandoned homes and foreclosures have become all too common in Springfield and it's a problem city officials do not see changing unless something is done. Now, there is a program helping families out.

Just a little help, it's all many families at risk for home foreclosures need. It's help which may mean the difference between keeping their family home or being forced out into the streets.

Last year there were 450 home foreclosure's in the city of Springfield. It's a number that's doubled in the last two years.

City officials say there is hope, and it starts with a new Foreclosure Prevention Center geared to assist homeowners of all incomes who fear they may be at risk for a foreclosure.

Peter Galiardi is the Executive Director of the project and says, "The highest number of foreclosures are occurring within the city of Springfield, perhaps as much as half of all the foreclosure activity in the 4 Western counties."

The center will have trained foreclosure prevention counselors in locations throughout the state.

It's a program Ruth Ramirez says would have helped her family out when her Mother couldn't keep up.

Ramirez says, "She couldn't keep up with the interest rate and now the house is up to $1,100 dollars {in} mortgage {payments per month} and they said in January they were going to help her out and they backed out."

Center officials say their goal is to reach out and help those who don't know there is any.

Ramirez says, "Sometimes people feel embarrassed because it's overwhelming, I mean, you miss a couple of payments and then you see your house in the newspaper and you have to leave in a month."

And that's something Ramirez doesn't want to see happen to anyone else.

Ramirez says, "You really can save it don't give it away, it's your house. Fight for it."

For more information on the Foreclosure Prevention Center you can call (413) 233-1622 or log onto www.TheresHopeWM.org.