Banks aren't helping homeowners

Regarding "Recovery still stumbling in the foreclosure mess" [Opinion, Dec. 30], I would like to comment on how the banks are misleading people on applying for loan modifications.

I lost my job in October 2009, and even though I am working, it is at a much lower rate of pay. I applied with my bank for a rate modification nine months ago, filled out tons of papers and supplied multiple documents (some two or three times). I was told that it looked good.

All the papers were sent to an underwriter on Oct. 30, and I was told it would be 30 days before we were notified of whether it was approved.

On Dec. 31, we received a Fed-Ex telling us we were denied. What a Happy New Year's present! Now we stand to lose the house where we have lived for 30 years and brought up our children.

I thought that President Barack Obama passed a law to help people stay in their homes, yet all I hear is that 95 percent of the people who apply are denied. My 87-year-old mother also lives with my husband and me, and I don't know where we will live.

My husband is already working two jobs, and I am working in retail, which leaves me little time to look for another job.

We are in our late 50s and early 60s and were looking forward to retiring soon. Now it looks like we will have to work until we die.

Why aren't the banks helping people instead of hurting them?

Amelia Aviles

Ridge