A $4 million settlement with defunct mortgage lender Countrywide will be used to hire legal aid lawyers to help fight foreclosures in Florida. The cash couldn’t come at a better time, according to the Capitol News Service.

There were 41,000 new foreclosures filed in Florida last month alone. The state ranks second only to California. The foreclosure boom is stretching legal aid lawyers thin when they are needed most.

But help is on the way.

A $4 million settlement with former mortgage lender Countrywide will send $2 million this year and next year to legal services offices in Florida to help those facing foreclosure.

New federal legislation means homeowners facing foreclosure have new legal rights that are almost impossible to navigate without a lawyer, according to the news service.

The money will be spread across the state based on the percentage of foreclosures in the area.

If you just lost a job or fear going into foreclosure, you should contact Florida Attorneys Saving Homes program with an online intake form or by calling the toll-free hotline from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at 1-866-607-2187. If you are already in foreclosure, call the local legal aid office.