Created: 2/23/2007 8:27:08 PM 
By Ryan Duffy First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- When Carolyn Pittman's husband died four years ago, the letters from banks poured in, pushing her to refinance her home loan.
They promised lower monthly payments.
"I said oh my God, they told me they would bring it down, but never did," said Pittman.
Instead, after four refinances in five years, her payments went up so much she couldn't afford it and she was threatened with foreclosure and losing her house. "I was worried, worried a whole lot about that. I was sick worried about where would I go, and where will I put everything," said Pittman.
"Foreclosure is a very legal, complicated process, and without legal representation they're in severe danger of losing their house," said Attorney Lynn Drysdale with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
Drysdale has been helping Carolyn fight the foreclosure.
But Carolyn is one of the lucky ones. With a historic increase in foreclosure cases Jacksonville Legal Aid is now turning people away. "About 60 days ago we realized we reached capacity, despite foreclosures coming in the door 20 to 30 a week," said Jacksonville Legal Aid Director Michael Figgins.
With just four lawyers working foreclosure cases he says his office is overwhelmed, and can't take new cases.
He says there are thousands of people in the same position as Carolyn Pittman but they can no longer help.
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