Find Help in Washington
107 government-validated organizations serving Washington — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why Washington Residents Need Help
Washington's overall distress metrics fall near or below national averages, though total debt per capita of $86K stands out. The 107 organizations below serve residents regardless of where the state ranks — individual financial hardship doesn't follow state averages.
Washington's State Distress Index score is 46.9 (Normal), ranking #31 of 51 jurisdictions.
10 of Washington's 16 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 7 agencies serve in Spanish, with 24 non-English languages available across all agencies. 4 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
13 of the 42 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving Washington offer in-person sessions, and 38 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 9 of 48 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (16)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
Credit Counselors (42)
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 (48)
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 Washington
Read the full Washington foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in Washington
Bank Of America, National Association leads with 1,106 CFPB mortgage complaints in Washington (out of 8,859 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
Washington Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in Washington?
There are 107 government-validated organizations serving Washington: 16 HUD-approved housing counselors, 42 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 48 debtor education providers, and 1 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 16 counselors, 10 offer foreclosure prevention services and 7 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in Washington 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. Washington uses both judicial and non-judicial foreclosure, with a typical timeline of 8 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 Washington?
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. Washington had 9,346 bankruptcy filings last year (#31 nationally per capita). 79% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 20% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in Washington?
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. Washington has 1 LSC-funded legal aid office — Northwest Justice Project 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 Washington use?
Washington uses both judicial and non-judicial foreclosure. The typical timeline from first missed payment to sale is roughly 6–8 months. Lenders may choose either path, so timelines vary. See our full Washington foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in Washington?
Washington has 8,859 CFPB mortgage complaints on record across the 30 largest servicers. The most-complained-about servicer is BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION with 1,106 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.