Find Help in Tennessee
123 government-validated organizations serving Tennessee — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why Tennessee Residents Need Help
Tennessee's overall distress metrics fall near or below national averages, though auto loan delinquency at 5.69% stands out. The 123 organizations below serve residents regardless of where the state ranks — individual financial hardship doesn't follow state averages.
Tennessee's State Distress Index score is 50.4 (Elevated), ranking #26 of 51 jurisdictions.
24 of Tennessee's 30 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 10 agencies serve in Spanish, with 2 non-English languages available across all agencies. 3 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
12 of the 41 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving Tennessee offer in-person sessions, and 37 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 9 of 49 providers offer in-person classes.
1 of Tennessee's 3 LSC-funded legal aid organizations are also HUD-approved, meaning it can provide both legal representation and housing counseling.
Housing Counselors (30)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
AAA RESIDENTIAL RESOURCES, INC.
CCCS OF ROCHESTER-CHATTANOOGA
CHATTANOOGA NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERPRISE, INC.
CROSSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
EASTERN EIGHT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP.
NEW LEVEL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
TENNESSEE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
TENNESSEE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AGENCY - DIRECT COUNSELING
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE EXTENSION OFFICE
WILLIAM FRANKLIN BUCHANAN CDC
WOODBINE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
YOU CAN MAKE IT HOME OWNERSHIP CENTER, INC.
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 (3)
Federally funded legal aid organizations providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals facing foreclosure, debt, and housing issues.
Foreclosure in Tennessee
Read the full Tennessee foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in Tennessee
Bank Of America, National Association leads with 618 CFPB mortgage complaints in Tennessee (out of 5,527 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 Bank Of America, National Association complaint profile
Tennessee Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in Tennessee?
There are 123 government-validated organizations serving Tennessee: 30 HUD-approved housing counselors, 41 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 49 debtor education providers, and 3 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 30 counselors, 24 offer foreclosure prevention services and 10 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in Tennessee 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. Tennessee uses non-judicial (trustee sale) foreclosure, with a typical timeline of 7 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 Tennessee?
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. Tennessee had 21,638 bankruptcy filings last year (#3 nationally per capita). 43% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 57% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in Tennessee?
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. Tennessee has 3 LSC-funded legal aid offices — Legal Aid of East Tennessee is one of the primary providers.
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 Tennessee use?
Tennessee uses non-judicial (trustee sale) foreclosure. The typical timeline from first missed payment to sale is roughly 5–7 months. Without court oversight, the process moves faster — making early action even more critical. See our full Tennessee foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 5,527 CFPB mortgage complaints on record across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION with 618 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 BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION's full complaint profile.