In case you somehow missed the bad news, which borders on impossible, foreclosures are a pretty big problem these days. In fact, the national housing market has been in turmoil for about four years now.

The United States government was initially slow to respond, failing to recognize the magnitude of house of cards (pun intended) that was about to collapse. Eventually, several housing/foreclosure assistance programs, along with their requisite acronyms, were gradually rolled out over time.

Not a single one, or all of them in combination, however, have had their intended impact on recovery. Not yet, anyway.

In fact, in a recent Gallup Poll, 58 percent of Americans want the government to do more to prevent additional foreclosures. In contrast, 34 percent of Americans are against increasing government intervention and prefer that “housing market resolve its problems in its own.”

The complete study, which you can view right here, is more detailed, drawing distinctions between political parties, annual incomes and college graduates.

The good news is that Gallop reports that collective confidence about the national economy, as well as the job outlook, is on the rise. And well all know, people must have jobs and earn incomes to be able to afford houses.

That’s something that just isn’t happening right now, with only 66 percent of those polled owning their primary residences. That ties a 66 percent all-time low.

To read more about the government-backed foreclosure/housing assistance programs — HAMP, HARP, 2MP and HAFA — currently in place click here.

Slow ride, take it easy …

Many Americans are taking the Foghat approach to living these days, unable (or unwilling) to meet their monthly mortgage obligations and, in the process, living rent-free until theirs lenders evict them from their homes.

And with the average distressed homeowner able to live like this for nearly two years (674 days) it’s actually emerged as a popular “strategic” move because of the economic hardship plaguing millions throughout the nation. Indeed, according to a recent CNN Money report, nearly 40 percent of homeowners in default have not paid their lenders a single penny throughout the entire foreclosure process.

The other 60 percent in distress have made some sort of payment(s), ”looking for ways to make good with lenders and get their homes back.”

So how is it possible to live in a home for so long without paying a mortgage?

Well, first, there is the fact that the United States is in the midst of a terrible housing crisis — one of the worst ever.

Foreclosures are abundant, lenders are overwhelmed, robo-signing scandals are rampant, court rooms are beyond clogged with cases. All these conditions, and several others, add up to the foreclosure process taking much longer than it should.

But, that’s not all.

In states like Florida, where foreclosure can take more than three years or longer to complete, and elsewhere homeowners — along with their throng of foreclosure attorneys — have a few tricks up their sleeves to delay foreclosure even longer.

Among the many stall tactics:

• Challenging the bank’s actions
• Waiting to file paperwork right up until the deadline
• Requesting the lender dig up original paperwork
• Declaring bankruptcy ( in some extreme cases)

Meanwhile, the homeowners live rent-free for literally years, saving money and, in some cases, even making it by renting out rooms to friends and relatives, among others.

All the while, holding out hope that a resolution can be hatched that will help them stay put before the local Sheriff comes a knocking, demanding that they vacate the premises.

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The heated battle between Main Street vs. Wall Street has taken another twist, with the grassroots “Occupy” movement shifting its focus to the nationwide housing crisis.

In particular, protesters have vowed to help families who have lost their homes to foreclosure by taking the vacant properties back. It’s been described as a “natural next step” in the fight to highlight the alleged excesses and abuses of the United States financial system.

In addition to moving displaced/distressed families back into their homes, which is illegal because they no longer own them, the Occupy movement has vowed to “disrupt” public foreclosure auctions throughout the nation.