It was once the very centerpiece of the American dream -- owning your own home.

But for millions of homeowners across the country, including many in the airport area, that dream has become a nightmare, as a struggling economy and ongoing mortgage crisis have pushed them to, and in some cases over, the brink of foreclosure.

Legislation proposed last week by state Sen. John Pippy of Moon, along with Republican colleague Sen. James Rhoades, could help some homeowners avoid that nightmare.

While western Pennsylvania has fared better than many regions during the current crisis, the fact remains that foreclosure filings in Pennsylvania rose 7.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 to almost 6,000.

The Foreclosure Relief and Affordable Housing Initiative, proposed by Pippy and Rhoades, could, at the very least, help keep those numbers from rising even further by increasing emergency mortgage assistance and providing grants and loans to homeowners facing foreclosure.

It is important to note that these initiatives would not offer homeowners a way to avoid paying the debt they legitimately owe, but rather would help them ride out these difficult times and perhaps reconfigure that debt into more manageable terms.

For example, qualifying, low-income homeowners would be eligible for one-time grants of up to $2,500 to cover the costs associated with refinancing their mortgage.

The proposal would also increase the number of loans available through existing programs that help homeowners who have sub-prime or predatory loans and who may owe more than their home is actually worth.

Obviously the ultimate responsibility for these loans still rests with the homeowners who signed on the dotted line.

But with more and more stories emerging about unscrupulous finance companies that take advantage of clients who may not fully understand the type of loan they are receiving, it seems fitting to offer a helping hand to those who have fallen victim to such practices.

The legislation sponsored by Pippy and Rhoades could be considered by the Senate's Urban Affairs and Housing Committee as soon as next week.

That hopefully, will be the first step toward helping Pennsylvania homeowners hold onto their piece of the American dream.