Find Help in District of Columbia
108 government-validated organizations serving District of Columbia — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why District of Columbia Residents Need Help
District of Columbia residents carry $102K in debt per capita (national average: $63K) and face a credit card delinquency rate of 11.16% — ranking #28 nationally. Multiple distress indicators exceed national averages, making access to the 108 verified counseling and legal aid organizations here especially critical.
14 of District of Columbia's 17 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 8 agencies serve in Spanish, with 6 non-English languages available across all agencies. 2 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
13 of the 41 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving District of Columbia offer in-person sessions, and 37 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 10 of 49 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (17)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
CENTRO DE APOYO FAMILIAR (CAF)-DC
UNIVERSITY LEGAL SERVICES
Credit Counselors (41)
DOJ-approved agencies providing the required pre-filing credit counseling for bankruptcy, plus general debt management plans.
American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc.
Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management, Inc. DBA credit.org
Debtor Education (49)
DOJ-approved providers for the required post-filing debtor education course in bankruptcy proceedings.
Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management, Inc. DBA credit.org
Legal Aid (1)
Federally funded legal aid organizations providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals facing foreclosure, debt, and housing issues.
Foreclosure in District of Columbia
Read the full District of Columbia foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in District of Columbia
Wells Fargo & Company leads with 280 CFPB mortgage complaints in District of Columbia (out of 2,121 total across all servicers). If you're having issues with your servicer, a HUD-approved counselor can help you navigate the complaint process.
File a CFPB complaint · View full Wells Fargo & Company complaint profile
District of Columbia Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in District of Columbia?
There are 108 government-validated organizations serving District of Columbia: 17 HUD-approved housing counselors, 41 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 49 debtor education providers, and 1 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 17 counselors, 14 offer foreclosure prevention services and 8 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in District of Columbia free?
Yes. HUD-approved housing counselors provide free, confidential assistance. They can help you understand your options if you're behind on your mortgage, facing foreclosure, or dealing with a reverse mortgage. District of Columbia uses non-judicial foreclosure, where the bank can foreclose in roughly 18 months. The earlier you contact a counselor, the more options you'll have. Call 1-800-569-4287 to reach one.
What is the difference between credit counseling and debtor education in District of Columbia?
Credit counseling is required before filing for bankruptcy — a counselor reviews your finances and discusses alternatives. Debtor education is required after filing — a course that covers budgeting, money management, and using credit wisely. Both are provided by DOJ-approved agencies. District of Columbia had 618 bankruptcy filings last year (#40 nationally per capita). 65% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 22% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in District of Columbia?
LSC-funded legal aid is available to low-income individuals, typically those earning below 125% of the federal poverty level. Each organization has its own intake process — call and ask about eligibility. Many can help with foreclosure defense, debt collection harassment, and housing disputes. District of Columbia has 1 LSC-funded legal aid office — Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia is the primary provider.
How current is this directory data?
Provider listings are pulled from federal government databases: HUD's Housing Counselor API, the DOJ US Trustee Program's approved agency feeds, and the Legal Services Corporation's grantee database. Data is refreshed periodically from these official sources.
What type of foreclosure does District of Columbia use?
District of Columbia uses non-judicial foreclosure. The bank can foreclose in roughly 12–18 months from first missed payment to sale, though individual cases vary. Without court oversight, the process can move faster — making early action even more critical. See our full District of Columbia foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has 2,121 CFPB mortgage complaints on record across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is WELLS FARGO & COMPANY with 280 complaints. If you're having issues with your servicer, a HUD-approved counselor can help you navigate the complaint process, or you can file a CFPB complaint directly. See WELLS FARGO & COMPANY's full complaint profile.