I do loss mitigation (loan workouts) for a living and I haven’t run into an issue doing what you ask for dozens of people in your position or worse, shoot me an e-mail with your address, balance you owe and the name of your lender or lenders.
With that info I can tell you if it’s do-able or not before you commit to sending me any "personal" information.
This is not one of those deals where you sign over the property to me or anything like that, do not sign over the rights to your home… EVER!.
I’m located in CA but I can help you out regardless of what state your in.

I’ve heard rhode island is pretty quick. we cant afford o pay and the mortgage company refuses to pay. How long do we have before we have to be out of the house?
mortgage company wont "help" not "pay"——sorry typo

Power of Sale Foreclosure Guidelines

If the deed of trust or mortgage contains a power of sale clause and specifies the time, place and terms of sale, then the specified procedure must be followed. Otherwise, the non-judicial power of sale foreclosure is carried out as follows:

The lender must mail a written notice of the time and place of sale, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the borrower at his or her last known address, at least twenty (20) days prior to the first publication, including the day of mailing in the computation.

The lender must give notice of the sale by publication in some public newspaper at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks before the sale, with the first publication of the notice being at least twenty-one (21) days before the day of sale, including the day of the first publication in the computation.

Said notice must contain the names of the borrower and lender, the mortgage date, the amount due, a description of the premises and the time and place of sale.

A friend of mine stopped paying for their home that is upside down. Now it’s in foreclosure and they received notice of auction date. Do they still have a chance to negotiate with the bank to sell property on short sale? Please advise.

Not really. The sale would have to close before the auction date, and even if the buyer has cash there isn’t going to be enough time.

Your friend did not just hear about this, at least 4 months have passed.