It’s hard to argue that the hardships of unemployment aren’t having a notable effect on the mortgage industry and pushing some borrowers into the at-risk column. An analysis of 400,000 homeowners in 2009 shows that nearly one in four needed access to employment services to help them keep their homes.

MortgageKeeper Referral Services has developed a unique database that connects homeowners in financial distress with nearby community services and government agencies for assistance. The company’s clients include Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC and the Homeownership Preservation Foundation’s 888.995.HOPE hotline.

The New York-based MortgageKeeper has found that of the 19 service categories its database offers, struggling homeowners most requested employment assistance. Based on this information, the company sees strong ties between job loss and foreclosure.

“The results are not surprising, but they point to foreclosure as a symptom of much larger problems in our economy,” said Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, president of MortgageKeeper Referral Services. “In almost all cases, something is forcing a family to miss their mortgage payments. If these underlying issues go unaddressed, loan modifications and other aids are only temporary fixes.”

MortgageKeeper says its database is accessed more than 1,000 times every day, helping more than 30,000 families every month. Its resources include more than 4,000 nonprofit and government agencies in 75 metro areas in all 50 states-covering 90 percent of high foreclosure markets, the company said.

“Our web-based applications-including our newest, MKDirect-dive to the root cause of missed mortgage payments,” said Gorey. “Offering a struggling homeowner help to find a job, feed their family, and pay their utility bills-this helps them steady their financial ship. And with their finances in order, homeowners will be much more likely to stay current on their mortgage.”

The federal government plans to release new unemployment numbers on Friday, and analysts fear the percentage of Americans without a job could edge higher than the 10 percent mark hit last month.