Find Help in Maryland
127 government-validated organizations serving Maryland — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why Maryland Residents Need Help
Maryland residents carry $81K in debt per capita (national average: $63K) and face a credit card delinquency rate of 11.65% — ranking #21 nationally. Multiple distress indicators exceed national averages, making access to the 127 verified counseling and legal aid organizations here especially critical.
Maryland's State Distress Index score is 56 (Elevated), ranking #16 of 51 jurisdictions.
33 of Maryland's 41 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 21 agencies serve in Spanish, with 6 non-English languages available across all agencies. 5 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
12 of the 39 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving Maryland offer in-person sessions, and 35 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 8 of 46 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (41)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INCORPORATED
GARWYN OAKS NORTHWEST HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER, INC
HARBEL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP ( A DIVISION OF HARBEL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, INC.)
Harford County, Maryland
HOUSING OPTIONS & PLANNING ENTERPRISES, INC.
NORTH EAST HOUSING INITIATIVE INC
UNITED COMMUNITIES AGAINST POVERTY
Credit Counselors (39)
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 (46)
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 Maryland
Read the full Maryland foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in Maryland
Wells Fargo & Company leads with 1,960 CFPB mortgage complaints in Maryland (out of 14,834 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
Maryland Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in Maryland?
There are 127 government-validated organizations serving Maryland: 41 HUD-approved housing counselors, 39 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 46 debtor education providers, and 1 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 41 counselors, 33 offer foreclosure prevention services and 21 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in Maryland 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. Maryland uses judicial (court-supervised) foreclosure, with a typical timeline of 9 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 Maryland?
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. Maryland had 12,405 bankruptcy filings last year (#15 nationally per capita). 63% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 36% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in Maryland?
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. Maryland has 1 LSC-funded legal aid office — Maryland Legal Aid 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 Maryland use?
Maryland uses judicial (court-supervised) foreclosure. The typical timeline from first missed payment to sale is roughly 3–9 months. Court oversight means the process takes longer but provides more procedural protections. See our full Maryland foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in Maryland?
Maryland has 14,834 CFPB mortgage complaints on record across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is WELLS FARGO & COMPANY with 1,960 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.