By Steve Angeles, ABS CBN North America News Bureau
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San Bernardino, Calif. - About an hour away from the glamour and glitz of Hollywood lies Southern California’s Inland Empire made up of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

About 15 percent of its residents have no work. The Inland Empire is reported to have one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

Raul and Myrna Varias are among those struggling to make ends meet. After an operation for breast cancer, Myrna was on disability for 4 months. After she recovered, the accounting clerk could not find work for nearly a year.
“Myrna Varias said, “Oh my goodness I had to rely on his pay.”

Raul Varias added, “The belt’s really tight.”

They bought their 2 bedroom home in 1998 for $76,000. During the housing boom, their home value rose, So, they took out some money and now they owe the bank $230,000.  They owe the bank $2,000 a month.

Nonprofit housing counselors Mabuhay Alliance said this was a common practice in hard hit areas such as the Inland Empire.

Daughlet Ordinario of Mabuhay Alliance said, “A lot of people were taking the equity out and buy another property and build their assets [sic], unfortunately it did not happen.”

The Varias’ home is now underwater. They owe more than the home’s value. Last year, The couple went through a three month trial modification, but despite paying on time, the bank did not continue it. So the Varias couple stopped paying their mortgage for ten months.

Myrna Varias said, “Hindi namin kaya I was out of work for 15 months so what were  trying to do is catch up.”
Myrna was able to get a temporary job last month working for the City of Riverside’s Accounting department.
They are hoping Myrna’s new income will help them qualify for a modification before they suffer the same fate as their neighbors.

With struggling homeowners, the high unemployment rate, and struggling businesses, San Bernardino County along with nine other California counties made it on the Associated Press list of “Most Stressed” cities in the U.S.

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