New statewide hotline aims to help California's renters

   Tenants Together, a statewide organization that aims to help renters, is launching a new hotline for tenants in foreclosure situations. According to a news release, Tenants Together announced the hotline to address a growing problem -- "the harassment and displacement of tenants who are innocent victims of the mortgage crisis."  California tenants can reach the Tenant Foreclosure Hotline at (415) 495-8012.

   Among other topics, hotline volunteers may assist in:  Finding out if a particular rental property is in foreclosure; identifying the new owner after a foreclosure sale; locating organizations that provide legal representation for tenants in foreclosures; keeping utilities on and getting repairs done in all stages of the foreclosure process; protecting and recovering security deposits.