ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Raymond Skinner urged homeowners to seek help in avoiding foreclosure.

"Montgomery County has not been immune to the foreclosure crisis gripping the nation," Leggett said. "Help is available, but those facing foreclosure need to take the first step and reach out for assistance."

Montgomery County's foreclosure rate is continuing to get worse. Foreclosure sales notices increased from 68 during the first quarter of 2007 to 918 during the first quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2007, 103 mortgage loan default notices were issued compared with 611 in the first quarter of 2008.

On Tuesday, Leggett and Skinner outlined programs that can help at-risk homeowners. County officials have signed three memorandums of understanding with the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide more assistance.

Maryland Montgomery County each contributed $100,000 to fund non-profit organizations the Latino Economic Development Corporation and Home Free USA to provide counseling to homeowners.

The state and county provided $200,000 to the Bridge to Hope program to provide 0 percent interest loans up to $15,000 to households for bridging the time needed to refinance.

Montgomery County will use $2.5 million from the Housing Initiative Fund to match the state's contribution and develop a credit enhancement program that will encourage banks to refinance loans for at-risk homeowners who might need special underwriting criteria.

"The O'Malley-Brown Administration and DHCD are committed to ensuring that Marylanders safeguard their most important economic investment -- their homes," Skinner said. "Partnerships like this one with Montgomery County are critically important to developing long-term solutions that support sustainable homeownership throughout the State."

Homeowners in Montgomery County facing foreclosure or delinquency should call the Maryland HOPE hot line at 877-462-7555 or click here.