That’s the implication of a study released Tuesday by Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, an organization that provides legal assistance to low-income residents of Jacksonville, Fla. — including help for those facing foreclosure.

According to an article in The Daily Record in Jacksonville, the study compared foreclosure rates to murder rates in Jacksonville and found a correlation:

“Neighborhoods within the 32206, 32208 and 32209 zip codes have the highest murder levels in the city. Those areas also have the highest foreclosure action levels, according to information released by JALA in conjunction with reports from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and RealtyTrac, a California-based company that measures foreclosure actions nationwide.”

Jacksonville Foreclosures by Zip Code – July 2006

JALA identified “abusive mortgage lending” as the culprit behind the high foreclosure rates, which in turn lead to vacant homes that are a magnet for crime. Evelyn Mew, a distressed Jacksonville homeowner, was quoted in the story:

“It causes the neighborhood to go down,” said Mew. “Drugs cause good people to lose what they’ve got. It’s overwhelming.”

The article also referenced a Chicago study that found that a one-percentage-point rise in the foreclosure rate increases the violent crime rate 2.33 percent, all other things being equal.

These studies put a whole new spin on “saving” a home out of foreclosure. It turns out buyers or investors who purchase a property during the foreclosure process not only have the opportunity to help a homeowner out of a tough spot financially, they also could help improve the quality of life for an entire community.