Fretting foreclosure? Pasco County has counselors who can help.

The county will hold a free workshop Jan. 17 for people who are behind on their mortgages, who have homes worth less than their mortgages or who have fears of foreclosure. The workshop will be at 10 a.m. at Victorious Life Church, 6224 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Homeowners can meet with a counselor to review their options, such as restructuring their loans, or receiving grants or no-interest loans from the county.

"You need someone who knows the landscape, who knows how to go through the process, to get somebody a better arrangement," said George Romagnoli, Pasco's community development director. "Even people who are upside down (owing more than a house is worth), there are ways to make it work."

Pasco handed out about $250,000 in assistance to prevent foreclosures last year, Romagnoli said. Barring any cuts in its funding, the county could double that amount this year, he said. With certain conditions, the county will loan people up to $5,000.

Foreclosures have hit Pasco hard. Congress granted the county $19.5-million for a recovery plan awaiting final approval in Washington. It was the fifth-highest amount in Florida, which has the second-worst foreclosure rate in America, according to a recent report by RealtyTrac, a research firm.

Pasco had 1,037 foreclosure filings — one in 205 housing units — in November, the latest month available.

During the workshop, residents also can find out about home sales, legal issues about foreclosures and all of Pasco's programs to help them.

People with questions about the workshop or their options can call Pasco community development: (727) 834-3445 in west Pasco; (813) 996-7341, ext. 3445 in central Pasco; or (352) 521-4274, ext. 3445 in east Pasco.

David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6232.