A new foreclosure counseling agency opened its doors in Orange County to help more than a hundred families that are in danger of losing their homes.

The new initiative is called Hudson Valley Foreclosure Prevention Services, and it is a joint effort of Hudson River Housing, Rural Ulster Preservation Company and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.

Hudson River Housing Inc. in Poughkeepsie has been advising struggling homeowners in Duchess County for several years. Recently, the agency has been taking an increasing number of calls from people in Orange County, where no similar service previously existed.

?There was a real need for people to have foreclosure services in Orange,? says Mary Linge, of Hudson River Housing Inc.

The new agency will help homeowners negotiate with banks, re-structure loans or decrease interest rates on mortgages.

?I think a lot of them walk out of here so much more relieved than when they walked in,? Linge says. ?And I think that's what we want to do.?

The new service has $1 million in grants to help homeowners, and all its services are provided free of charge.