In three ways, according to Senior Researcher, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, Urban Institute, Kathryn L.S. Pettit, in a recent interview with NPR.org:

• Family turmoil. Even before losing your home, the stress that parents are feeling over their financial difficulties, qualitative work has shown greater levels of anxiety and depression among parents going through this problem. So that can happen even before the move is the move actually occurs.

• Switching neighborhoods/schools. Dislocation can affect their educational progress and social development.

• Living in hard-hit foreclosure areas: Their families may not even be in foreclosure, but they are still being impacted by their surrounding area.

Pettit is the director of a project that examines how foreclosure affects children and schools in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

To view her comprehensive library of foreclosure-related studies click here.

Pettit’s research on “kids in foreclosure” is in the beginning stages; however, that should not diminish the importance of it. Children are often lost in the shuffle as their parents stress over finances and other provider-related responsibilities.

Her advice to parents going through foreclosure, or possibly headed down the path, is to avoid it at all costs. Reach out for assistance as soon as possible to eliminate the problem before it has time to grow roots.

Easier said than done, but sound advice nonetheless, whether children are involved or not.

It’s rather straightforward: If you don’t have a job, affording a mortgage is virtually impossible.

In fact, Barry Zigas, director of housing policy for the Consumer Federation of America, today tells the Christian Science Monitor that “the biggest single cause of foreclosure today is loss of income or employment-related issues.”

To treat the problem, and not the symptoms, the Obama administration pledged an additional $3 billion to support foreclosure prevention initiatives, extending beyond the current $75 billion “Making Home Affordable” loan modification program.

Here’s how the extra funds will be spread around:

“… the additional aid will go towards funding a new bridge-loan program for homeowners with reduced incomes in hard hit local areas, although those regions have not yet been specified. The program extends a no-interest loan of up to $50,000, which can last as long as 24 months, to assist homeowners with mortgage payments until they become financially stable.”

Previously, out-of-work homeowners received a three-month forbearance to find work and become eligible for a loan modification. However, with the average length of employment lasting up to 24 weeks (six months) more needed to be done.

The latest initiative is modeled after a successful program in Pennsylvania, which has helped about 45,000 distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure since 1983.

Good ‘ole southern cooking can do much more than make mouths water for one Georgia woman.

Beverly Davis, you see, is confident that her way out of foreclosure is through the stomachs of her hungry neighbors.

She recently lost her three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Fairburn to foreclosure shortly after losing a full-time job. The 48-year-old former city government worker needs to come up with about $60,000 to get it back before it heads to auction.

And she intends to do just that with her secret weapon: Cornbread.

Here’s her explanation:

“With cornbread, everyone likes it. Men, women and children.”

That’s a lot of potpie crusts, souffles, mixes and even bumper stickers, which range in price from $5 to $40, according to the Wall Street Journal. But Beverly is confident that in the end, she’ll reach her goal.

And when she does, there will be a big barbecue to celebrate … the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has even been requested to be on the scene.

True story.

To buy some of Beverly’s yummy cornbread and to support her cause click here.

Forbes has compiled a list of the riskiest cities for homeowners, which have the highest percentage of borrowers who are at least three months late on their mortgage payments.

Check it out:

1. Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Riverside, California
3. Stockton, California
4. Modesto, California
5. Bakersfield, California
6. Vallejo, California
7. Orlando, Florida
8. Memphis, Tennessee
9. Miami, Florida
10. Fresno, California

“Sin City” has the dubious distinction of topping this list; however, California has six cities in the top 10, underscoring the distressing situation on the left coast.

The good news is that the “Golden State” recently pledged $700 million to prevent about 40,000 foreclosures. In fact, the program, “Keep Your Home,” is the nation’s “biggest principle reduction program,” trimming mortgages by up to $50,000 each.

If you are a struggling homeowner in California and want to learn more about whether or not you qualify for mortgage assistance click here. Those who want to view foreclosures in California — or anywhere else in the United States for that matter — should click here.