These aren't the best of times. Maybe you lost your job or you're facing foreclosure. But they say there's a silver lining in every cloud. If something good has come out of your bad circumstances, or if you've found a renewed purpose after being forced to make an unexpected transition, we'd love to hear from you. Send an e-mail to mbearden@tampatrib.com, and put Thankful in the subject line. Or you can write: Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa, FL 33606. ...more

October 31, 2009

A 55-year-old South Florida man allegedly swindled some $400,000 from two New York women he was engaged to at the same time. Authorities say Paul R. Francois coaxed one to move to Florida after she met him on vacation, and the other into taking out a $100,000 home equity loan on her Elmont, N.Y. place. ...more

August 13, 2009

A free workshop, Florida Housing Help, is designed to educate and assist families facing foreclosure. ...more

June 26, 2009

The Senate voted on Tuesday to prohibit credit card companies from arbitrarily raising a person's interest rate and charging many of the exorbitant fees that have become customary - and crippling - to cash-strapped consumers. ...more

May 20, 2009

Thousands of Tampa Bay area homeowners face foreclosure, and they don't always find help on the other end of their lender's 1-800 number. ...more

April 15, 2009

With foreclosures threatening to put more families on the streets, community leaders have been working on a long-range plan to curb homelessness. ...more

March 11, 2009

With foreclosures threatening to throw still more families out onto the streets, Pasco leaders opened the door this week on a long-range plan to end the homeless problem. As a first step, a Florida Housing Help Workshop on March 14 will reach out to residents facing foreclosure, the Rev. Dan Campbell, president of the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, told county commissioners. With a foreclosure rate of about 9 percent and other factors, Pasco meets the definition of a distressed county, Campbell, pastor of Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, said. ...more

March 4, 2009

With foreclosures threatening to throw still more families out onto the streets, Pasco leaders today elaborated on efforts to end the homeless problem. ...more

February 24, 2009

Can $780 billion stimulate our nation's economy? Let's pray that's the case, because right now we are in bad shape. Anyone who doesn't think our country isn't in dire straights hasn't been affected, at least not at a serious level where they are facing foreclosure or something worse. But they will be soon. ...more

February 12, 2009

Authorities say a ring of criminals bilked distressed San Diego homeowners by persuading them they could declare their properties to be independent nations. ...more

January 11, 2009