Summary Box: Treasury approves $600M in housing aid to 5 states with high unemployment

Summary Box: States get $600M in housing aid

AID TO UNEMPLOYED: The Obama administration plans to send $600 million to help unemployed homeowners avoid foreclosure through state-designed programs.

FIVE STATES GET HELP: The Treasury Department approved mortgage-assistance proposals submitted by North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The states estimate their efforts could help up to 50,000 homeowners.

SMALL DENT SO FAR: The Obama administration has rolled out numerous attempts to tackle the foreclosure crisis but has made only a small dent in the problem.