The City of Peabody has compiled a list of resources to assist residents facing the possibility of foreclosure. Please use the links below to seek assistance.

Helping Responsible Homeowners Across America

Housing Counselors
Want advice on buying a home, renting, default, foreclosure, credit issues or reverse mortgages? HUD sponsors certain housing counseling agencies throughout the country who in turn give advice free or at low cost.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern New England (CCCS/SNE) is a non-profit public service agency formed in 1999 from the merger of the former CCCS affiliated agencies of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the leading provider of financial counseling, financial education, debt management programs and housing counseling in the tri-state area.

Mortgage Relief
Citizens Bank, Sovereign Bank, TD Banknorth, Webster Bank and Bank of America have committed $125 million in funds to create the Mortgage Relief Fund. The goal is to help eligible homeowners in New England refinance into more conventional fixed-rate loans that will better meet their needs. If you are experiencing difficulty making your mortgage payments, take a moment to consider whether you may be eligible to participate in this initiative.

Governor Patrick’s five point foreclosure prevention plan is designed to keep people in their homes and stabilize neighborhoods across the Commonwealth.

Tenants Rights
HUD handles complaints about housing discrimination, bad landlords in federal housing and many other issues. For additional local resources, you can also contact a housing counseling agency.

Tips for avoiding foreclosures
Are you having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments? Have you received a notice from your lender asking you to contact them?

Elder Home Owner Protection Program
To conserve and protect the equity of low/mod-income elder homeowners so they can 'age in place'.

Hope Now
The mission of the Hope Now alliance is to prevent homeowners from foreclosures and assist borrowers who seek help and guidance. If you have not received a Hope Now letter you may call the Hope Now hotline directly at 888-995-Hope to speak with a mortgage counselor.

NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks is a national nonprofit organization created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance, and training for community-based revitalization efforts. Together, with national and local partners, NeighborWorks creates new opportunities for residents while improving communities.

Hope for Homeowners
The Homeownership Preservation Foundation is an independent, nonprofit counseling service provided by the Homeownership Preservation Foundation which creates partnerships with local governments, nonprofit organizations, borrowers and lenders to help families overcome obstacles that could result in the loss of their homes. If you feel like you may be in danger of facing foreclosure, call our 888-995-HOPE hotline. Our HUD-approved counselors are experts in foreclosure prevention and trained to set up a plan of action designed just for you and your situation. The help we offer is free.

Housing Consumer Education Centers
Housing Consumer Education Centers offers tenants, landlords and homeowners referrals to help solve housing issues.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC)
NCRC runs the Consumer Rescue Fund, which helps consumers determine if they have a predatory loan and works with borrowers who are victims of predatory lending practices.

Freddie Mac Buying and Owning a Home
Freddie Mac offers an online tutorial can help you look at your current situation and determine if you are you ready for homeownership. This web page is available in English and Spanish.

Freddie Mac Credit Smart and Credit
Financial literacy and good credit is a key component to achieving homeownership. Freddie Mac offers this online self-tutorial to help you build a sound financial future. This web page is available in English and Spanish.

Freddie Mac Don't Borrow Trouble
Don’t Borrow Trouble is a nationwide campaign to help borrowers protect themselves from predatory lending practices and to assist victims of predatory lending. This web page is available in English and Spanish.

Mortgage Brokers Association
Includes information on warning signs of predatory lending, how to report predatory lending and other information for mortgage borrowers. Contact: (800) 348-3931

NeighborhoodLaw.org
NeigborhoodLaw.org provides basic legal information and links to local legal service agencies. Legal advice is provided by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

Consumeraffairs.com
This site has various consumer news, including steps you can take to avoid losing your home and ruining your credit.

The following agencies may be helpful in answering your fair housing questions

The Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston - 617-399-0491 (TTY users, please clal MA Relay Service at 1-800-439-2370)

North Shore Community Action Programs, Inc. (NSCAP)
978-531-0767

MA Commission Against Discrimination - 617-994-6000

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Office - 800-827-5005