Obama administration’s loan help program only helps 31,000 homeowners as of Nov.

Gov’t program only helps 31,000 borrowers so far

WASHINGTON — Just over 31,000 homeowners have received permanent loan modifications under the Obama administration’s mortgage relief plan, a big setback for the government’s embattled effort to stem the foreclosure crisis.

Lenders say they are having a hard time getting borrowers through the trial period, which can last up to five months. Many homeowners who were given verbal approval for the program have not returned the necessary documents.