WNYers worried about keeping homes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The money meltdown has many western New Yorkers worried about keeping their homes.

David Gallagher and his son Jed were almost forced to leave their home in North Buffalo.

David is on disability with Parkinson's Disease, and child support and maintenance payments from his ex-wife, who he says he once helped put through school hadn't arrived for months.

David Gallagher said, "I didn't know where I was going to go, where I was going to live. I didn't have any money to move anywhere, and plus I had my son."

That's when he turned to West Side Neighborhood Housing Services, which began working with Century 21 on options available; options that will allow David and Jed to keep their home.

Andrea James (West Side Neighborhood Housing Services) said, "They're going to make the payments affordable, look at his income, look at his debt, and they'll make the payments affordable to him."

West Side Neighborhood Housing stresses these are not bail outs, just assistance to help homeowners meet their obligations.

Many people in danger of losing their homes have worked hard all their lives.

Linda Chiarenza (West Side Neighborhood Housing Services) said, "They didn't buy million dollars houses when they were making $50,000 a year. They bought houses they thought they could live in and raise their families."

For 11-year-old Jed Gallagher, a big burden has been lifted.

Jed Gallagher said, "There's a lot of things I sometimes worry about and when I worry about this, it stresses me out and stuff so I don't have a good time doing things, sometimes I get caught behind."

Governor David Paterson may be taking some questions about mortgage concerns during his town hall meeting on Wednesday.