STEVE INSKEEP, host: The federal housing agency Fannie Mae is offering help to military families who face foreclosure. Military personnel returning from combat with injuries or families who've had a service member killed in action can stop making mortgage payments for six months.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Here's NPR's Jamie Tarabay.</s>JAMIE TARABAY: Along with the six month suspension, military families can also choose to reduce their payments, and Fannie Mae says their credit scores will not be affected. About two-thirds of military families pay for their own housing outside military bases. The mortgage agency and U.S. military say they don't know how many are struggling with their mortgages.</s>JAMIE TARABAY: Fannie Mae spokeswoman Amy Bonitatibus.</s>Ms. AMY BONITATIBUS (Spokeswoman, Fannie Mae): We know anecdotally that this is a problem and Fannie Mae feels strongly that members of the Armed Forces certainly deserve to come back and have a home to live in, and if they have sustained an injury, to have that time to get back on their feet and resume making their mortgage payment or obviously pursue other housing options.</s>JAMIE TARABAY: Only families with those injured or killed in combat can apply, and they need to provide documentation that the injury or death was sustained during active duty. Military homeowners have struggled along with the rest of the nation to meet their mortgage payments. Earlier this year, the research firm RealtyTrac identified a 10 percent spike in foreclosure rates in zip codes near bases around the country.</s>JAMIE TARABAY: Jamie Tarabay, NPR News, Washington.
Fannie Mae is throwing a lifeline to military families facing foreclosure. The mortgage agency and the Army this week announced measures including a mortgage payment forbearance of up to six months when the death or injury of a service member on active duty causes hardship for military families with a mortgage obligation.