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RALEIGH -- Foreclosures are still growing problem in North Carolina, with the number of filings going up 14 percent compared to this time last year.

Some areas have seen a drop in foreclosures. For example, filings in Cumberland County are down 17 percent. The number of foreclosures in Guilford County has also dropped 9 percent.

But, other places are still seeing increases. Wake County filings have gone up 5 percent, New Hanover up 40 percent, and Mecklenburg County has increased by 51 percent. The numbers are a comparison from January through November of 2009 versus the same time period last year.

But help is available through the State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project. The program launched in November 2008 and provides a network of counselors available through a hotline to help homeowners struggling with their mortgages.

"Those counselors can really help people assess their budget and work with their mortgage company in order to avoid foreclosure if it's in any way possible," North Carolina Deputy Commissioner of Banks Mark Pearce said.

Pearce said more than 2,500 homes have been saved from foreclosure, and there are about 5,000 more in the pipeline.

"There's been a $218 million impact in saving property values and financial system losses," he added. "That's had a pretty significant impact as well as the personal impact of those 2,500 families."

Leigh Holmes, the Housing Program Manager for the nonprofit Consumer Education Services Inc. said having the banking commission as a backer has helped their work significantly. She said many services and lenders were not responding to their initial calls to work with the homeowners to avoid foreclosure. But, that changed when the Office of the Commissioner of Banks got involved.

"They're the big brother in the state and because of that, we've been able to get them to call us back," Holmes said. "Now, they'll respond. Now, we can help our clients."

Holmes has been encouraging homeowners to reach out to the hotline and the network of licensed counselors.

"Even if you're not behind on your mortgage, but you're struggling to make ends meet because your hours have been reduced, or what have you, we can still help you," she added.