Thousands of Minnesotans are in danger of losing their homes this year. So Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to expand state support for foreclosure-prevention programs is welcome and needed.

This week, Pawlenty said the state will increase the number of foreclosure counseling workshops, fund additional mediation sessions between borrowers and lenders and set up a counseling hotline. The governor is also urging lenders to sign compacts that commit them to counseling and good-faith efforts to renegotiate loan terms.

Those are worthwhile approaches -- as far as they go. All of them depend upon voluntary lender participation, the preferable way to modify a mortgage. Yet previous similar measures have failed to reach enough struggling borrowers.

Last year, counseling help saved about 4,500 homes from foreclosure, according to the Minnesota Homeownership Center. However, the nonprofit Housing Link estimates that over 20,500 Minnesotans lost their homes to foreclosure in 2007 -- an 84 percent increase over 2005 that was largely driven by an increase in subprime and other nontraditional loans. And up to 37,000 could default this year.

Too many lenders, some in other parts of the country or the world, remain resistant. That's why state lawmakers should also consider methods to persuade more of them to negotiate.

Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, introduced a bill that would defer foreclosures for a year to help at-risk borrowers who got in trouble when their adjustable interest rates went up. We're not sure that is the answer. But it does appear that something beyond voluntary programs are needed to keep more roofs over worthy homeowners' heads.

Especially in cases where moderate, temporary loan modifications could help consumers handle their payments, it might make sense to require that mortgage holders participate in counseling. If that fails, the parties could automatically move to mandatory mediation. In both cases, a third party could determine whether lenders were doing their best to strike a reasonable deal.

Still, the most predatory, unethical lenders and brokers may warrant legal action. The city of Minneapolis successfully sued TJ Waconia for mortgage fraud; this week, the court took 141 rental homes away from the company and placed them with a receiver. Those are properties the city hopes to rehabilitate and sell back to responsible buyers.

Even with tough laws and more lender participation, not every foreclosure can be prevented. Some borrowers simply got in over their heads. Yet even they can benefit from counseling. Experts guide some clients to what they call a "soft landing." Advisers work with consumers to find affordable housing, set budgets and repair credit, and lay the groundwork to perhaps own a home again in the future.

To turn Minnesota's foreclosure explosion around, more homeowners should seek help at the first signs of trouble. And when necessary, government should examine taking stronger steps to bring lenders along.