Monday, April 6, 1998 | 9:59 a.m.
Last week, homeowner Harry Hopkins was wondering how he was going to save his $200,000 home from foreclosure after falling months behind on neighborhood dues.
He never imagined the kind of people who would come forward.
It was a Las Vegas executive sickened by the seemingly heartless manner in which homeowners associations operate.
It was a widower who lost his wife to lung cancer, the same disease Hopkins is battling.
And it was a handful of working-class people who, despite having a tight budget, wanted to help.
"I am totally flabbergasted," Hopkins said Sunday. "I had no idea that anyone would want to even give me a dime."
After a story about Hopkins' plight was published Friday in the Las Vegas SUN, a dozen people called and expressed interest in donating money to the 73-year-old Desert Fairways West resident. Some offered to pay the entire $820 bill he initially owed; others pledged as much as they could afford.
Hopkins' troubles started about a year ago when he was so burdened by costs for medical treatment that he struggled to pay all other bills. He and his wife Lillian put enough money aside to pay the master community's fee of $60 a month but failed to keep up with the Painted Desert West homeowners association dues of $56.
About two weeks ago, Hopkins was contacted by a volunteer from Homeowners Hotline, a support group whose members scan newspapers for foreclosure notices and work to help the residents involved.
He received a letter March 28 from American Trust Deed Services Inc. saying if he didn't pay the $820 and additional foreclosure fees by April 7, it would auction off his three-bedroom home.
What Hopkins and a homeowners group didn't realize was those foreclosure fees would boost the total due up to $2,100.
Lorraine James, president of American Trust Deed Services, said the added fees are because of the cost of publishing foreclosure notices in the newspaper, sending letters through registered mail and other paperwork. Ten percent interest also is tacked onto the dues.
When Hopkins visited the deed-services office Friday and learned of the new figure, he felt he had no option but to watch his home go up for sale. But his phone started ringing Friday evening, and it didn't stop until Sunday.
Some callers wanted to deliver as much as $900 cash to his doorstep, some offered him $100 and others wanted to pitch in a smaller amount. Most callers wanted to remain anonymous, but some were willing to explain why they were helping Hopkins.
"I am not a rich person, but I'm willing to contribute to his fund," Carol Drummey, who offered $100, said. "It would be devastating to have a person who put down $200,000 for their home lose it over something like this."
Hopkins said he was confident that the donations would allow him and his wife to keep his house.
He and members of the Homeowners Hotline plan to visit the deed-services office today and determine exactly how the fee will be paid.
"I've said my little prayers to the man upstairs, and I guess this was His way of answering," Hopkins said. "I never imagined it would come from this direction."
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