ffihelp's reply history at Help.com

If you file chapter 13 it will not save your house it will just give you some time. Google.com search “chapter 13″ and “bankruptcy”. I hate to tell you this but unless you have equity in your house to get a loan to help you through this you are going to end up losing the house. This happens to a lot of good people so don’t feel alone. If you dont have equity in the house then find someone who does short sales and have them buy your house before your credit shows foreclosure. That would be real bad and the bank will take the home.

If you have equity in the house? Find out how long you are going to be out work and add two extra months then calculate the cost of repairs for the damages and take out a home equity loan to hold you until you are back on your feet. Don’t take out more than you need or you will spend it and regret it. So if you make 1,000 a month and you will be out for 3 months add 2 months which totals $5,000 + cost of repairs for vandalism (which will be tax deductible) and take out the loan for that amount only.

If you have equity in the house? Find someone who does short sales and sell the house. I would take some classes on financially investing for the future and hopefully you will bounce back.

Your best bet is to find a short sale specialist and sell the house before the bank takes it.