My Day at the Foreclosure Hotline

I traveled to Freehold, N.J., in January to spend a day getting to know some of the people who staff the Homeowners HOPE hotline (888-995-4673), and to listen in on of the calls they field from people who are afraid of losing their homes. The result is the "Talk to Me" story in the March 1 issue of Washington Post Magazine.

One of the things that struck me was that almost everyone working at the call center is female. I spotted a couple of men, but overwhelmingly the hum that rose up from the cubicles carried a feminine tone. Maybe it's evidence that women make good listeners; maybe it's evidence that women need the jobs. But it's not a fluke. The Department of Housing and Urban Development says 78 percent of all housing counselors are female.

Stacie Rillo, the counselor who allowed me to shadow her through a work day, will be joining me today to field questions on the story during a live chat at noon on WashingtonPost.com. And at 1 p.m., author Christina Ianzito will chat about her Magazine story about one couple who decided it was time for them to dive into the ice-cold housing market and buy their first home. I hope you're able to join us in the chats!