On December 15, 2008, the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners took action to help the Western Piedmont Council of Governments [COG] staff to provide foreclosure prevention counseling to Caldwell County residents. The COG is a HUD Certified Counseling Agency and will help residents with delinquent mortgages to develop a workout plan or loan modification, in order to keep their homes or come to a better resolution of their foreclosure. In turn, this will help property values by keeping foreclosure rates down and home values up. Because of the downturn in the economy, the county commissioners, along with other area governments, voted to pay a $3,600 share to fund an additional counselor for the program for the 18 months following July 1, 2009. The COG program has already helped over 130 people facing foreclosure in the unifour area.

Caldwell County residents needing assistance should contact Western Piedmont Council of Governments at 828-322-9191 and ask for Sherry Long, Laurie Powell, Elizabeth Moncrief or Stephanie Hanvey.