Foreclosure explained · For teens & families
You heard “foreclosure.”
What happens now?
Understand what it means, find local help, and get support with school if housing changes. Start with two questions.
You don’t have to know the legal terms. And if you’re a teen, you don’t have to handle this on your own.
Find the right help
Choose a guide below. Each one explains where to start and whom to contact.
No names, addresses or case documents. Your choices stay in this page and are not sent to a provider. This is a guide to resources, not an application or a test of eligibility.
Local help
Choose the location of the home.
Foreclosure rules and available services vary by place. These guides keep New York and LA County information separate.
New York State
New York
New York’s foreclosure process, homeowner rights and contacts for housing help, with support for renters and students.
Open the New York guide →California
Los Angeles County
California-specific explanations and LA County contacts for homeowners, renters, school support and somewhere to stay.
Open the LA County guide →General guides · Start here from any location
Understand the basics. Find support.
Plain-language explanations and help with the everyday side of housing uncertainty. These guides do not describe every state’s legal rules or deadlines.
About Ellie
I’m Ellie Mitola, the founder of Foreclosure Decoded and a UCLA undergraduate studying sociology. During a legal internship in New York, I saw how difficult foreclosure language can be to follow—especially for young people whose families are going through it.
I started Foreclosure Decoded to explain the process and make useful contacts easier to find. The LA County guide brings that work closer to where I study, including the connection between housing and school.