A layoff can cause stress on the emotions and the pocketbook. Financial worries are the second most common reason callers will contact the Lafayette Crisis Center, which runs the First Call service, said executive director Cheryl Ubelhor.
Relationships are the primary reason for calling, although the two issues often are related.
People worried about finances should talk about their concerns with people in their support system such as family and friends, Ubelhor said, and if they need help, they should ask for it. First Call can provide referrals to other agencies. People often contact the Crisis Center in situations such as a mortgage payment they can't make. I don't sense our phones are going to be any slower. They should take a look at their current household budget and get in touch with creditors before things reach the crisis point of foreclosures and repossessions.