How a Housing Counselor Can Help You During Financial Hardship or a Disaster

Housing counselors help by:

• Assessing your situation.
• Identifying suitable mortgage relief options, including options to stay in your home while avoiding foreclosure.
• Developing a personalized action plan.
• Talking to your mortgage company or landlord on your behalf.
• Checking in with you regularly to support your recovery over time.

Get in touch with a counselor sooner rather than later. The earlier you reach out for help, the more options you may have available to explore.

Once you’re matched with a housing counselor, it’s time for a meeting. You can chat with your housing counselor virtually or face-to-face.

It is likely that your first interaction will last about one hour. The meeting typically starts with a privacy disclosure — to assure you that your information is confidential as per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (14 U.S.C. 1681) — before you dive into explaining your situation.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, you’ll want to share how much you owe on your mortgage and/or other debts, along with your income and expenses. This will help the counselor create a realistic budget and plan.

If you are recovering from a disaster, you’ll want to share the extent of damage to your property and whether you have home insurance. This will help the counselor suggest the best course of action toward recovery.

During the call, your housing counselor will ask you questions. If there’s time, they may start suggesting recommendations too. Either way, they will report back to you on certain resources and services that you would benefit from, along with a written action plan.