Los Angeles may be home to movie stars, but it's also one of the areas hit hardest by the economic downturn.

With home foreclosures in Los Angeles still on the rise this year, the Los Angeles Times provides five first-hand accounts from people facing foreclosure.

It's a simple, captivating and heartbreaking read. Each of the five people profiled offers a distinctively different tale, but they've all faced the same stress: How do we stay in our home?

In reading their stories, I think there are several lessons that we can take away, particularly if you're facing foreclosure or other financial struggles.

1. You can't take action soon enough. Many of the people in the article waited until it was too late to take action. Time is not on your side if you are facing foreclosure. Don't wait until you receive an eviction notice. If you are getting behind on your payments, then take steps today to improve your situation. The sooner you start, the more options you may have. If you lose your job and notify your bank right away, they may be more willing to work with you. Then again ...
2. The banks are not on your side. Several of the people in the story mentioned how unwilling their banks were to work with them. Often the banks wouldn't even respond to requests for help. One bank wouldn't lower a man's $500,000 mortgage, but sold his house for a fraction of that! Also, several couples went to the bank seeking help only to have more loans pushed on them with higher interest rates and higher monthly payments.
3. Know your rights. Some of the people turned to bankruptcy for help, only to report having banks turn up on their doorsteps with foreclosure notices. If you file bankruptcy, all foreclosure efforts must stop until your case is resolved. If you file, and a bank shows up on your doorstep, report this to your lawyer immediately. The bank is in violation of the law in these cases.
4. Even the prepared can struggle. The people profiled had money in savings and retirement accounts. They owned their business and were often responsible. But still, they faced hardship. Even the best prepared can struggle. Don't let your pride keep you from seeking assistance.
5. You need long-term help. When hard times hit - like a job loss or injury - it's difficult to say how long the trouble will last. Will you find work soon? Will things recover quickly? You never know. But many people get in trouble by trying short-term fixes that only complicate their problems. If you find yourself slipping into serious debt, you should look into real, lasting solutions right away.
6. Help is available. Most of all, don't give up hope. You have options. The people in this story turned to free legal aid organizations for help. For many people, filing bankruptcy allows them to stay in their home. Other people need short-term assistance to help with food and child care. The support is there, if you take advantage of it.

Tags: bankruptcy, banks, foreclosure, Mortgage Foreclosure