Making Home Affordable An official program of the Departments of the Treasury & Housing and Urban Development

Why work with a HUD-approved housing counselor?

• There is no charge to work with a HUD-approved counseling agency
• A HUD-approved housing counselor will talk to you about your situation and help you decide what options are best for you
• A counselor will explain what documents you will need to provide to your mortgage company and may be able to contact the mortgage company on your behalf
• A housing counselor can help you make a budget that will show you how to meet your monthly mortgage payment and other expenses

The counselor will also have information about local resources that may be helpful to you.

Where can I get help?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages.

Find a HUD-approved housing counselor ›

You can also call 888-995-HOPE (4673), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to immediately speak to an expert advisor in over 160 languages. Calls are answered within seconds. This valuable, around-the-clock service is available completely free of charge.

Before you call

1. Explore the 'Finding the Right Program' tool and answer a few questions to see which programs you may be eligible for. This information will help when speaking to a counselor.
2. Make sure you have used the tools available on this site to become familiar with the terms used and all programs available.
3. Use the checklist provided on 'What You Will Need' to help gather most of the information your HUD-approved housing counselor will ask for. Try to collect and organize as much of your information as you can before you call.
4. Once the counselor has evaluated your situation, they will guide you through the process and help you collect and complete other necessary documents.