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Prince George's County leads Maryland in foreclosures, making up 35 percent of the foreclosure activity in the state this year. Nearly 2,800 county home owners were in foreclosure or behind on mortgage payments between June and September, according to state officials.

As a result, the county qualified for a $10.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to offset the impact the vacated homes are having in the community. Local governments that receive the money get to make their own plans to address the impact of foreclosures.

The cash has sparked discussions over whether the county should use the money to purchase and make a profit by selling the properties or heed the call from real estate agents to use the money as down payment or closing cost assistance for homebuyers. Agents say paying up to $5,000 could help nearly 3,000 people, much more than the 40 foreclosed homes that may be purchased.

The real estate agents make good points. It would likely be difficult for the county to make money off homes given the flooded housing market, and county officials should focus on helping as many people as possible. A financial incentive — with strict qualification guidelines to prevent abuses that have plagued past grant-distribution plans — may encourage more people to buy in the county.

The county should not be in the business of flipping houses. Officials could risk losing money as did many private companies that specialize in the practice. With so many questions about whether there is enough affordable housing in the area, it would seem contradictory to have the county selling homes in search of profits.

In addition, buying the homes largely absolves banks of their responsibilities. If properties are not being kept up, banks should be fined just as homeowners are.

In defense of county officials, however, if banks are already lowering prices on foreclosed homes but buyers still aren't stepping up, $5,000 may not be enough to make a significant difference. Another shortfall of the real estate agents' plan: What happens after the money is gone?

With thousands of residents losing their homes — and more on the horizon — officials must come up with a comprehensive strategy for rescuing the county.

Credit counseling help has been offered to those facing foreclosure, but little has been said about whether it is actually keeping residents in their homes. Neighborhoods are battling with banks to provide upkeep on homes, and some municipalities are resorting to their own plans. Seat Pleasant officials recently purchased a foreclosed home, renovated it and are taking offers from potential buyers. The city used money from a Washington Area Community Investment Fund and state Community Legacy grant, and plans to purchase four more homes next year.

A comprehensive strategy — and frequent checks on the success or failure of programs — is needed to ensure that everyone in the county is best served.

County officials could do more if a plan with clear priorities was in place rather than handle funding and ideas in a piecemeal manner. In the case of the HUD grant, officials must submit a plan by Dec. 1; a long-term, well thought out strategy would ease the problems caused when decisions must be made quickly.

Residents, bank officials and county, state and local officials must get together and determine where the needs are greatest and how they can best be met.

The issue should also be addressed regionally. When the area suffered from a shortage of affordable housing, many county governments worked independently, determining on their own whether they were willing to lend a hand to areas shouldering the burden.

The housing crunch could mean thousands of people — many of them families — will be without homes and with bad credit, left to find a way to survive.

County officials must formulate a comprehensive plan in an effort to keep this day from happening.