Earlier this year, Jackie Goff almost lost her three-bedroom house to foreclosure.

She was able to keep it thanks to foreclosure-prevention counseling from ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

"If you're like me, this is not just a house. It's where I've been building my life for the past seven years," said Ms. Goff, a Grand Prairie resident who struggled to pay her rising mortgage after losing her job last year.

Ms. Goff is one of thousands of Dallas-area residents that ACORN hopes to keep in their homes this year with its foreclosure-prevention program.

Given the high rate of foreclosures in North Texas and nationwide, the nonprofit group held a news conference at Ms. Goff's house on Thursday to try to reach out to more homeowners at risk of losing their houses.

"The United States is in a foreclosure housing situation that is really drastic; as a matter of fact, it's a crisis," said Derrick Richardson, an ACORN leader.

The ACORN Housing Corp., a sister organization to ACORN, received a $7.8 million federal grant to provide the counseling nationwide. The grant was one of $130 million awarded to foreclosure prevention programs nationwide.

Under the program, counselors work with families to negotiate payment plans with mortgage companies, said Allison Brim, lead organizer of the local ACORN chapter.

For example, Ms. Goff, who now does contract work, said the group helped her restructure her mortgage to make it more affordable.

Many homeowners facing foreclosure do not know where to turn, Ms. Brim said.

"I think folks are losing their homes every day who could've saved them," she said.

Mr. Richardson urged residents facing foreclosure not to wait to ask for help.

"There's no need for you to stay in your house wondering how you can get help when ACORN is here to assist you," he said. "We're ready and waiting for the phones to start ringing so we can start helping people."