In an effort to help families facing a foreclosure in the midst of the holiday season, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae made announcements today and suspended foreclosure evictions from December 19, 2009 through January 3, 2010.

In Freddie Mac’s announcement, the company said it will suspend all evictions involving foreclosed, occupied single family and two to four unit properties that had Freddie Mac-owned mortgages.

“If the property is occupied, our attorneys will halt the eviction during this holiday moratorium,” said Ed Haldeman, Freddie Mac CEO. “In these extraordinary times, we want to provide a greater measure of certainty to these families during the holidays.”

Fannie Mae had no inclusions and said all owner-occupants and tenants living in foreclosed properties the company holds will not be subject to evictions during the this time frame, and the company said it will also support the efforts of the servicers it works with that are taking similar actions.

“We’re taking this step in support of struggling families who have unfortunately found themselves facing foreclosure,” said Michael J. Williams, president and CEO of Fannie Mae. “No family should have to face the prospect of being evicted during the holiday season.”