A dedicated service to help people at risk of losing their homes in the North is to receive a £500,000 boost from the Northern Ireland Executive.

Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland has confirmed the Mortgage Debt Advice Service will receive funding to enable it to operate until 2015. The scheme will help homeowners deal with mortgage payment and debt problems. During the pilot phase 1,556 people contacted the service for advice and it helped prevent 336 families and individuals from homelessness. Mr McCausland said help was available to people in Northern Ireland and “repossession should only ever be the very last resort”.

Peter McMahon, manager of the service, urged anyone experiencing problems to get in contact with them.