TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A free workshop is planned to help Tucson area residents avoid the gut-wrenching experience of losing a home through foreclosure.

The event is being held Saturday at the Tucson Convention Center and will offer consultations from major lenders and presentations from nonprofit agencies.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, will speak at the event, which will be moderated by Richard Elias, chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

"This workshop is very much needed in our community," Grijalva said in a press release.

"Homeownership is a basic part of the American dream and foreclosures have become a terrible crisis for many families.

Confidential one-on-one counseling with housing consultants and lenders will be available to homeowners in danger of losing their home.

Participating in the workshop will be lenders from Citi, Chase, Wells Fargo, Countrywide and Bank of America.

The program is sponsored by Pima County, the city of Tucson and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, among other agencies.

The Saturday morning portion of the event will feature a panel of speakers. Two workshops, including one for Spanish-only speakers, will be held in the afternoon. Participants are urged to bring their mortgage loan documents if they want a private consultation with a lender or counselor.

Children's activities will be available and there is no charge for parking or to attend the event.

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Information from: Tucson Citizen, http://www.tucsoncitizen.com

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