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.

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.

The foreclosure crisis has hit virtually the entire nation without discrimination; however, some states, collectively, have been impacted more than others.

Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Nevada, in fact, top the list of 50, sustaining average home price declines of 20 percent or more. As a result, the U.S. Treasury Department has earmarked $1.5 billion to “head off” foreclosures in these states, among other, according to Reuters.

It’s been dubbed the “Hardest Hit Fund,” which was announced back in February. And it was carved out of the $50 billion Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to assist responsible homeowners who have “been affected by the economic crisis through no fault of their own.”

The five states submitted proposals, demonstrating that their residents needed the housing assistance, which were all approved.

Here’s the monetary breakdown:

Arizona will get up to $125.1 million for these purposes while California gets up to $699.6 million and Florida up to $418 million. Michigan has been approved for up to $154.5 million of funding and Nevada up to $102.8 million.

In addition to the five states already mentioned, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina have submitted proposals for similar assistance. It’s expected that they, too, will receive approval “in coming weeks.”

Government officials reportedly expect to help 90,000 or more homeowners with its “Hardest Hit Fund.” For more information on the program, as well as the complete “Making Home Affordable” initiative, click here.