ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned lawmakers are ready to take on homeowners' associations. Eyewitness News reported Monday about a man who could lose his house because he didn't pay his HOA dues.

Efforts are underway to keep that kind of thing from happening again. Lawmakers are working to take away power from HOAs like Orange Cove. Residents there said at least three families in the one neighborhood are facing HOA foreclosure and one state representative calls that outrageous.

Since Thomas Canuelas' story aired Monday, Eyewitness News has seen an outpouring of response from people in his same situation and from people wanting to help his family. Canuelas got laid off six months ago and, even though he's current on his mortgage, his home owner's association is trying to foreclose upon him because he's late on a $370 fee.

Eyewitness News started asking questions and found Florida lawmakers are actively working to strip HOAs of that power.

"If you live in an association environment, whether it's an HOA or condo, I like to say you, unfortunately, have a double whammy," said State Representative Julio Robaina.

Robaina is working on legislation for a planned December special session. He wants to take away power that allows the HOAs to foreclose.

"The government has failed people who live in association environments, because we haven't done enough to protect them," Robaina said.

Lynn Sullivan is a WFTV viewer who contacted the station wanting to help Canuelas. She called the attorney who is dealing with his foreclosure through the Orange Cove HOA and was shocked at their response.

"In today's economy, that it wouldn't be a good thing to turn away people from trying to resolve this situation," she said. "This is a win-win situation for everyone involved. The HOA gets its money, the attorneys get their money, this guy gets to keep his house and they're not willing to work with you? Hopefully after this they will be willing to work with us."

Late Tuesday afternoon, the HOA's attorney said it wasn't the first time Canuelas was behind on his payments and that it's not just about $370. However, they said if Sullivan is interested in helping to settle the money owed, she can come to their office Wednesday and pay the $1,405 owed.