Tammy Ravenstein is a single mother of two children and says she needed help with her mortgage payments.

"I wanted to take advantage of something that was out there that other people were getting," said Ravenstein.

In November, she first contacted her lender, Bank of America. Now over 240 days later, she's still in limbo.

"You talk with somebody and they say they will call you back and they never call you back," said Ravenstein. "You can never speak with the same person."

CredAbility of Jackson says many Americans with a mortgage, like Ravenstein, are in a crunch.

They help people who call about the Home Affordable Modification Program all the time.

But CredAbility Counseling Service regional president Sherry Rainey says when folks contact her first, often it's a smoother process than dealing with a lender directly.

"They often get a quicker response from an organization that consumers have had trouble getting in touch with," said Rainey.

Rainey advises anyone needing a loan modification to first assess all of their options and to keep all documentation along the way.

"Any changes that occur with that loan would have to be well documented and substantiated based on where their current situation finds them," Rainey said.

As for Ravenstein, she has kept all of her documentation that takes up two binders.

Progress for her family does seem to be in the works, but getting her mortgage modified, she says, is the difference between staying her in her house or having to leave.

"Per month, it could be as much as $700," Ravenstein said.

CredAbility of Jackson says it is helping folks all over the state with mortgage questions free of charge. The number is 1-800-251-2227.