Find Help in Pennsylvania
182 government-validated organizations serving Pennsylvania — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why Pennsylvania Residents Need Help
Pennsylvania's overall distress metrics fall near or below national averages, though mortgage delinquency at 1.1% stands out. The 182 organizations below serve residents regardless of where the state ranks — individual financial hardship doesn't follow state averages.
64 of Pennsylvania's 75 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 29 agencies serve in Spanish, with 14 non-English languages available across all agencies. 4 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
17 of the 47 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving Pennsylvania offer in-person sessions, and 41 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 11 of 52 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (75)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
BERKS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Credit Counselors (47)
Agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Justice provide the required pre-filing credit counseling for bankruptcy, plus general debt management plans.
Debtor Education (52)
U.S. Department of Justice-approved providers offer the required post-filing debtor education course in bankruptcy proceedings.
Legal Aid (8)
Federally funded legal aid organizations providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals facing foreclosure, debt, and housing issues.
Foreclosure in Pennsylvania
Read the full Pennsylvania foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in Pennsylvania
Wells Fargo & Company leads with 1,996 mortgage complaints recorded by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Pennsylvania (out of 13,907 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
Pennsylvania Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in Pennsylvania?
There are 182 government-validated organizations serving Pennsylvania: 75 HUD-approved housing counselors, 47 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 52 debtor education providers, and 8 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 75 counselors, 64 offer foreclosure prevention services and 29 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania uses 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 Pennsylvania?
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 U.S. Department of Justice-approved agencies. Pennsylvania had 13,965 bankruptcy filings last year (#34 nationally per capita). 54% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 44% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in Pennsylvania?
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. Pennsylvania has 8 LSC-funded legal aid offices — Laurel Legal Services, Inc. is one of the primary providers.
How current is this directory data?
Provider listings are pulled from federal government databases: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Counselor API, the U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Trustee Program approved-agency feeds, and the Legal Services Corporation grantee database. Data is refreshed periodically from these official sources.
What type of foreclosure does Pennsylvania use?
Pennsylvania uses judicial foreclosure. The bank can foreclose in roughly 9–18 months from first missed payment to sale, though individual cases vary. Court oversight means the process can take longer but provides more procedural protections. See our full Pennsylvania foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 13,907 mortgage complaints on record from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is WELLS FARGO & COMPANY with 1,996 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.