Many Not-For-Profit Agencies Help Families Too

If you are behind on one mortgage payment or think you will be behind and this is a one time thing - consider contacting Modest Needs (www.modestneeds.org). Modest Needs is a not-for-profit organization that helps those who are above the poverty line that don't qualify for other types of assistance. Keep in mind that Modest Needs only provides one-time assistance - many of their clients come to them because of an unexpected bill. "We help people who are normally self-sufficient who need help with a small one-time expense," said Huriya Jabbar, Vice President of Program Services at Modest Needs.

The Homeownership Preservation Foundation is a very useful organization for those with mortgage concerns. You can actually speak to a mortgage counselor twenty four hours a day. So if you are having trouble sleeping because of your mortgage problem - get up and give them a call at 1-888-955-HOPE. You can also put in an online counseling session at their website (www.955hope.com). They provide housing counseling at no charge to the homeowner. They will review your mortgage and current obligations and help you create a budget and see how you can prevent foreclosure. They will also work with your lender. The foundation also has local offices in many areas, so you can meet with a counselor face-to-face. They don't offer funding or grants, but they have the ability to help you find local agencies in your area that do assist with funding and grants. You can speak to a counselor anytime for as long as you need.

Calling your local United Way office is also a great way to find resources. In many communities you can simply call "211" to reach the United Way's 211 Call Center (www.211.org). This informative call center will help you find resources in your area. Explain to them that you are looking for organizations that help people with their mortgage concerns and they will typically give you a list of organizations. When we called our local 211 office, we were given three different organizations to call.

Seniors may find the AARP guide "Borrower's Guide to Home Loans" quite helpful. They can get a copy by making a request at the website: www.aarp.org.