JACKSON — With a struggling economy, residents out of work and homes being lost, the Township Council is inviting people whose homes are at risk of foreclosure to attend a special seminar.

The keynote speaker at the event, to be held 6-9 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Jackson municipal building, 95 West Veterans Highway, will be a representative from Novadebt, a Garden State consumer credit counseling organization which is a nonprofit financial management, social service agency.

Council President Mike Kafton said, "We are in the midst of extremely perilous economic times and more and more people are in danger of losing their home, their primary asset. If we can reach out and let residents know there are ways to save their home, then we are providing invaluable information, because many people are unaware that help is available."

Kafton said the Feb. 19 seminar will benefit homeowners who are facing foreclosure, are struggling to make their mortgage payment or have missed a mortgage payment, or are having difficulty paying their adjustable rate mortgage."

Novadebt's mission is to provide financial education to the public, which includes free housing and credit counseling services to families and individuals in need.

Novadebt is an affiliate of HOPE NOW, an alliance among federal Housing and Urban Development-approved counseling agents, servicers, investors and other mortgage market participants that provides free foreclosure prevention assistance.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and HUD encouraged leaders in the lending industry, investors and nonprofits to form this alliance.

In 2008, HOPE NOW has attempted to keep as many homeowners as possible in their homes.

Through a new set of servicer guidelines, a series of concerted outreach efforts and the implementation of a unified data reporting system, HOPE NOW has been able to keep millions of homeowners out of foreclosure and provide valuable data on the market and industry, according to a press release from Kafton.

Novadebt has assisted in this process by providing free counseling to homeowners in need and will share this information with those attending the event in Jackson. There is no charge for the counseling.

Individuals who preregister for the event will be guaranteed a private counseling session at the seminar. To register or for more information, call Kafton's office at 732-928-1200, ext. 372, or 732-905-7898.