It seems that the hardest hit are playing hard to get. Officials late last year unveiled the federal Mortgage Payment Assistance program to help people stave off foreclosures and keep their homes. The money is intended as a lifeline for the areas hardest hit by the recession. In Oregon, some $100 million is available to help 5,000 homeowners pay their mortgages for up to a year or to a max of $20,000, whichever comes first.

 The application process began online last month, and the deadline is near Friday, Jan. 14. By now, officials expected to be swamped with applications, especially from Eastern Oregon, where the jobless rate has skyrocketed and foreclosures are mounting.

  The deluge hasnt materialized, however. In Grant County and across the state the agencies that handle the program are seeing far fewer applications than expected.

 Officials at La Grande-based Community Connections, which administers the program in Grant County, are baffled. They expect a few folks to shy away out of pride or a traditional resistance to outside help. They also realize some people who apply wont qualify the program has income criteria that not everyone will meet.

 But for those who qualify, this could buy needed time to get back in financial health or at least renegotiate a mortgage. That seems worth a shot.

 Unveiling the program last month, Lynne Ewing of Community Connections urged people to at least check out the website, www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org, and see if they qualify. Theres a program eligibility test online, and information about the program.

 Community Connections has even hired a local representative, Angie Jones, to help people navigate the application process. That requires an online application and gathering up the pertinent documents. If it seems challenging, Jones is there to help. She works out of the John Day Senior Center, with a phone line dedicated to the program.

 But keep in mind: Time is running out, and preparing a full application takes a little time. If you need help in this challenging economy, or know a neighbor or relative in need, this is an opportunity worth checking out soon. SC