Find Help in Texas
158 government-validated organizations serving Texas — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why Texas Residents Need Help
Texas residents carry $60K in debt per capita (national average: $63K) and face a credit card delinquency rate of 14.19% — ranking #4 nationally. Multiple distress indicators exceed national averages, making access to the 158 verified counseling and legal aid organizations here especially critical.
Texas's State Distress Index score is 70.2; high state distress, ranking #8 of 51 jurisdictions.
34 of Texas's 49 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 32 agencies serve in Spanish, with 5 non-English languages available across all agencies. 9 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
17 of the 46 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving Texas offer in-person sessions, and 41 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 12 of 60 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (49)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
Credit Counselors (46)
DOJ-approved agencies providing the required pre-filing credit counseling for bankruptcy, plus general debt management plans.
Debtor Education (60)
DOJ-approved providers for the required post-filing debtor education course in bankruptcy proceedings.
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 Texas
Read the full Texas foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in Texas
Wells Fargo & Company leads with 2,755 CFPB mortgage complaints in Texas (out of 23,730 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
Texas Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in Texas?
There are 158 government-validated organizations serving Texas: 49 HUD-approved housing counselors, 46 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 60 debtor education providers, and 3 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 49 counselors, 34 offer foreclosure prevention services and 32 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in Texas 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. Texas uses non-judicial foreclosure, where the bank can foreclose in roughly 6 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 Texas?
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. Texas had 38,066 bankruptcy filings last year (#29 nationally per capita). 59% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 36% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in Texas?
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. Texas has 3 LSC-funded legal aid offices — Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas 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 Texas use?
Texas uses non-judicial foreclosure. The bank can foreclose in roughly 1–6 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 Texas foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in Texas?
Texas has 23,730 CFPB mortgage complaints on record across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is WELLS FARGO & COMPANY with 2,755 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.