Find Help in South Carolina
98 government-validated organizations serving South Carolina — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why South Carolina Residents Need Help
South Carolina residents carry $59K in debt per capita (national average: $63K) and face a credit card delinquency rate of 13.36% — ranking #9 nationally. Multiple distress indicators exceed national averages, making access to the 98 verified counseling and legal aid organizations here especially critical.
South Carolina's State Distress Index score is 53.1 (Elevated), ranking #21 of 51 jurisdictions.
8 of South Carolina's 13 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 5 agencies serve in Spanish, with 2 non-English languages available across all agencies. 3 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
12 of the 39 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving South Carolina offer in-person sessions, and 35 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 7 of 45 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (13)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
CHARLESTON TRIDENT URBAN LEAGUE, INC.
NEW AMERICA CORPORATION
REGENESIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION F/K/A UPSTATE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
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 (45)
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 South Carolina
Read the full South Carolina foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in South Carolina
Wells Fargo & Company leads with 608 CFPB mortgage complaints in South Carolina (out of 5,114 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
South Carolina Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in South Carolina?
There are 98 government-validated organizations serving South Carolina: 13 HUD-approved housing counselors, 39 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 45 debtor education providers, and 1 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 13 counselors, 8 offer foreclosure prevention services and 5 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in South Carolina 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. South Carolina uses judicial (court-supervised) foreclosure, with a typical timeline of 12 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 South Carolina?
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. South Carolina had 5,210 bankruptcy filings last year (#39 nationally per capita). 35% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 65% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in South Carolina?
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. South Carolina has 1 LSC-funded legal aid office — South Carolina Legal Services, Inc. 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 South Carolina use?
South Carolina uses judicial (court-supervised) foreclosure. The typical timeline from first missed payment to sale is roughly 8–12 months. Court oversight means the process takes longer but provides more procedural protections. See our full South Carolina foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in South Carolina?
South Carolina has 5,114 CFPB mortgage complaints on record across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is WELLS FARGO & COMPANY with 608 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.