Westchester County is now offering financial assistance and advice to local homeowners who are facing foreclosures after defaulting on their mortgages.

Geoffrey Anderson, executive director of Westchester Residential Opportunities, says the county government had given his agency $75,000 to provide temporary help for people who are unable to make their mortgage payments.

"Because of the economy and the holiday season, we want to make sure people stay in their homes," Anderson says.

On his part, County Executive Andy Spano says he has written a letter to 23 banks, asking them to halt all legal proceedings associated with foreclosures for the next three months. Some national banks have already agreed to work with homeowners who are in financial trouble.

There had been 104 foreclosure judgments in Westchester in August and 55 in September. Then, when the economic crisis shifted into high gear in mid-October, the number of foreclosed homes around the county shot up to 74. Yonkers currently holds the top spot for the highest number of foreclosed properties in the county.