By Brenda Showalter, The Republic
bshowalter@therepublic.com
Bartholomew County saw a slight decrease in the number of home foreclosures in 2007, but more than 1,300 residents have lost their homes since 2003.
The increase was most dramatic between 2003 and 2006 when foreclosures increased 33 percent - from 230 to 307.
Last year, 286 cases were filed in the Bartholomew County clerk's office.
Margaret Dougherty of Columbus lives in a three-bedroom apartment at Lincoln Village after she lost the house she was living in with her four children.
Although she worried for awhile that her family would be homeless, she is thankful to have a nice place to live again.
"It's affordable," she said. "I don't have to struggle through the month."
Dougherty, who was featured in a Republic series on home foreclosures in September, said she is feeling more secure and settled.
Money is tight since health problems keep her from working, but living in income-based housing helps.
She also is thankful that local assistance programs and a group that sponsored her family at Christmas allowed her children to have a good holiday with new clothing, shoes and other gifts.
"We're doing OK," she said.
She doubts she'll ever be able to afford a home again, but knows many others found themselves in similar situations.
One indicator of how the nationwide foreclosure crisis is hitting Bartholomew County is the number of sheriff's sales of foreclosed homes that are listed in legal advertisements of The Republic.
Last year, 249 homes were sold in sheriff's sales, up from 237 in 2006.
At the next sale on Feb. 12, 16 homes are listed.
Bill Sultan, president of Momentive Consumer Credit Counseling Service, said the number of people seeking assistance for debt problems continues to increase.
He added that almost 75 percent of those who called Momentive were having trouble making mortgage payments.