06:44 PM CST on Monday, December 5, 2005

By Dan Lauck / 11 News

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The Federal Housing Administration has launched a program to pay the mortgages of up to 20,000 hurricane victims of Katrina, Rita and Wilma for up to one year.

KHOU-TV

Carey Brassette was shocked to find out her mortgage lender wanted their back payments in one lump sum.

But for many storm survivors and Louisiana homeowners living in Houston, their mortgages are due right now.

One Katrina victim is struggling to stay financially afloat following the aftermath of the storm.

"Basically, we were able to save all these ornaments," said Carey Brassette. "That's why we put up such a big tree."

Christmas ornaments and pictures, that's about all Brassette grabbed on her way out the door.

"These were taken, I assume, from a helicopter," she said referencing aerial pictures of her neighborhood two days after the storm. "All you can see are the roofs of the houses."

She knew there would be nothing left inside the modest house that had for 17 years been home.

"September 3 ... Countrywide debited my checking account for the full amount of my mortgage payment," she said.

A few days later, mortgage lenders all across the country including Countrywide announced they would postpone mortgage payments for three months.

"I thought they were going to just tack on three payments at the end of the loan," she said.

That's what most everyone thought but, instead, many mortgage companies asked for all three payments at once with interest.

And, if they can't pay it, they'll give them another three months.

Only then, they'd have to make six payments with interest at once.

11 News made several attempts to contact Countrywide but was unable to locate a spokesperson who would comment .

"I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe that. I said, 'How do you expect people to do that?' "

Carey Brassette went to Countrywide Monday morning hoping to work something out.

At this point, she has modest hopes.

"Maybe repair it as best we can, and put a big orange for sale sign on it."

Right now, her family would be happy just to start over again.