The state's Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection says it is being called daily by Maine residents who are having trouble paying their mortgage payments. Most of these calls are from homeowners who purchased their homes with sub-prime mortgages.

The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection oversees many aspects of the consumer finance industry throughout the state. It is tasked with oversight of non-bank mortgage lenders, debt collectors, loan brokers, retail creditors, money transmitters, credit reporting agencies and non-bank ATMs.

The Bureau says mortgage-related complaints have tripled in the last year and that the impact of the sub-prime troubles on Maine's economy is hard to tally.

The sub-prime foreclosure problem has doubled since last year and some forecasters say it could double again after many loans written in 2005 and 2006 go through their rate adjustments. In July, nearly eight percent of sub-prime loans were in foreclosure in Maine. The state's overall fore-closure rate is 1.4 percent.

The Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) offers Maine Housing programs to fit the needs of many low to moderate income Maine residents. These programs offer low-interest rate mortgages, as well as gap financing, down payment assistance and educational classes.

MSHA's First Home Program is a popular choice for income eligible residents who have either never owned a home or who have not owned a home in the past three years. This program focuses on making homeownership affordable through low rate mortgages and down payment and closing cost assistance. For a limited time this program is now available to vet-erans and active duty military, even if they already own a home.

The hoMEworks Homebuyer Education Class is another popular program for Maine residents looking to purchase a home. It is an easy and inexpensive way to learn tips and recommendations for home buying. Anyone can benefit from taking these classes, even if they are not eligible for a MSHA program.

More information on these and other MSHA home buying programs can be viewed by visiting http://www.mainehousing.org/HOMEBUYERPrograms.aspx .

The Maine Arts Commission is inviting all private and public high school students in Maine to compete in the national poetry recitation contest. The contest, Poetry Out Loud, is a partnership between states, the National Endowment of the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Awards for the contest will total more than $100,000 in scholarships and school stipends.

During the fall and winter of the 2007-2008 school year, individual schools are encouraged to conduct their own recitation contests. Winners from each school will have the opportunity to compete in the state contest in March of 2008. The winner will advance to the National Finals in April of 2008. The national contest will be held in Washington, D.C. and state win-ners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip.

The national championship college scholarship will total $20,000. Each state winner, in addition to their paid trip to D.C., will receive $200 and their school will receive a stipend to purchase poetry books. There will also be a $100 prize for each state's runner-up.

Maine high schools that would like to participate in the program must contact the Maine Arts Commission at 287-6571.

For more information on this national contest, visit www.poetry outloud.org .

As always, I encourage you to send me your thoughts, ideas, questions and opinions. You can contact me for more information on this or any other issue at 563-5427 or by e-mail at Jon@JonMcKane.

com .