Subprime mortgages and house foreclosures took center stage at a hearing in Hartford Thursday.

The Banks Committee held the hearing on a number of proposals to help people caught in the subprime mortgage whirlpool. Lawmakers heard from community organizations and homeowners who are in foreclosure and trying to save their homes.

Some of the proposals include loans, from both state and private banks, and emergency mortgage assistance.

Earlier in the week, statistics put Connecticut in the top 10 in the country when it comes to foreclosures.

?What we?re looking to do is keep families in homes, stabilize our housing market,? Sen. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) says. ?We?re looking to do it in a way that?s not a handout, but a hand up to help loans and redoing some of the loans.?

Duff says state lawmakers are committed to helping with the housing crisis as soon as possible.

Housingcrisis sparks proposals by state Dems