PITTSBURGH — Homeowners will soon get court-ordered help to avoid mortgage foreclosures.

Allegheny County plans to begin the program Monday, which a judge ordered to be established in a court order signed Dec. 19 with no fanfare.

President Judge Joseph James signed the order estimating there were about 4,000 foreclosures pending in the county and hundreds more likely as adjustable rate mortgages and balloon payments become due.

Details of the plan will be released later this week.