Should I try to short sell my house, walk away (turn it in to the bank) or allow a...

[Roxy]

...foreclosure of my house? Like many Americans, I have been unemployed for almost 3 years. Along with some serious health issues and a divorce, the last 3 years have been a true hardship. I have managed to continue to pay both of my mortgage loans. I have contacted my mortgage company and applied for assistance. I was told each time that I do not qualify for any assistance because my debt ratio is too high, in other words I am broke. They don’t consider my situation a hardship. How can I be too poor to get help and what other issues besides, unemployment, illness and divorce is considered enough of a hardship? They informed me that I can either sell my house for less than I owe or turn it in to them. After 13 years of on time payments. They do not care if we are homeless. Do I have to stop making payments to show I need help and if so, how many missed payments before they kick me out? Even though I am managing to make the payments, my home is falling apart and I have no way to make the repairs, which makes me feel even more trapped and wanting to leave the whole mess. Is there any free/low cost programs to help with repairs? I want to walk away but, have nowhere to go; since I can’t even rent an apartment without a job, unless maybe I can get a co-signer (does anyone know if this would be acceptable?)