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Housing Counseling
If you are behind on your mortgage or facing foreclosure, call the
SaveYourHomePhilly Hotline at
215-334-(HOME) 4663
Housing Counseling Agencies
More than 30 housing counseling agencies offer free counseling services to residents of Philadelphia. Eligibility requirements apply.
What types of services are provided?
Professionally trained housing counselors conduct free group and individual counseling on topics such as:
- foreclosure prevention and intervention;
- identifying and avoiding predatory lending practices;
- purchasing a home within your means;
- financial assistance programs;
- credit repair and maintenance;
- money management;
- the mortgage application and purchase process;
- rights and responsibilities of homeowners;
- maintenance of the house.
Who is eligible?
For Foreclosure Assistance:
Free foreclosure counseling is available to all Philadelphia homeowners facing foreclosure on their primary residence. There are no income requirements. To receive assistance, call the SaveYourHome Philly hotline at 215-334- HOME (4663).
For Prepurchase Counseling:
Any Philadelphia homebuyer is eligible for prepurchase counseling.
For First-Time Homebuyer Grants:
To be eligible for homeownership grants, you must be a first-time homebuyer. The house must be a single-family property located in Philadelphia in which you will live. You must complete housing counseling before signing an agreement of sale. Your annual income cannot be more than the amount listed below for the number of people living in your household.
Income Eligibility Chart |
Household Size |
Maximum Annual
Household Income |
1 |
$43,600 |
2 |
$49,800 |
3 |
$56,050 |
4 |
$62,250 |
5 |
$67,250 |
6 |
$72,200 |
7 |
$77,200 |
8 |
$82,150 |
For households larger than eight, add $4,980 for each member
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How do I apply?
Contact one of the housing counseling agencies listed below to determine if you are eligible for their services. Before you call, get the following information together so you can give it to the housing counselor:
- amount of total annual household income;
- source of that income (employment, SSI, DPA, etc.);
- number of people in your household.
Avoid Anti Predatory Lending
If you are thinking about borrowing money to:
- purchase a home
- refinance your home
- fix-up your home
- pay property taxes
- consolidate debt
contact one of the housing counseling agencies, listed below.
Beware of the following tactics:
- telephone and door-to-door solicitations
- lenders who ask for upfront fees
- pressure tactics
- contracts with low monthly payments but a high balloon payment, interest-only payments or adjustable rates
- contracts with excessive fees and hidden costs
Before signing any loan document you have a legal right to know:
- the annual percentage rate, including any potential future changes in the rate (fixed rates are best)
- the monthly payment including any potential future changes in the monthly payment (fixed payments are best)
- the term of the loan (how long you have to payback the loan)
- the points and fees
- the total cost of the loan
Before you sign, call a housing counseling agency below. Remember: you have the right to terminate a loan within 3 business days of closing. Be sure this "right to rescind" is in your loan.
List of Housing Counseling Agencies
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ActionAIDS*
1216 Arch St., 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-981-0088
ACORN Housing Corp.
846 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-765-1221
www.acornhousing.org
Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha
600 W. Diamond St.
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-235-6070
www.apmphila.org
Carroll Park Community Council†
5218 Master St.
Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-877-1157
Center in the Park (Senior Center)
5818 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-848-7722
www.centerinthepark.org
Centro Pedro Claver
523 W. Erie Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19140
215-227-7111
www.centroclaver.com
Concilio
705-709 N. Franklin St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-627-3100
http://elconcilio.net
Congreso de Latinos Unidos
216 W. Somerset St.
Philadelphia, PA 19133
215-763-8870
www.congreso.net
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley
1608 Walnut St., 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-563-5665
www.cccsdv.org
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Diversified Community Services
(Dixon House)
1920 S. 20th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19145
215-336-3511
www.dcsphila.org
Hispanic Association of Contractors & Enterprises (HACE): Central Office
167 W. Allegheny Ave.,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19140
215-426-8025
www.hacecdc.org
HACE: Frankford Office
4915 Frankford Ave..
Philadelphia, PA 19124
215-437-7867
Housing Association of Delaware Valley Counseling Site Office
658 N. Watts St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-978-0224
www.hadv.org
Intercommunity Action (Senior Center)
6012 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-487-0914
www.journeys-way.org
Intercultural Family Services
4225 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-386-1298
www.ifsinc.org
Korean Community Development Services Center†
6055 N. 5th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19120
215-276-8830
www.koreancenter.org
Liberty Resources
714 Market St., Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-634-2000
www.libertyresources.org
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Mt. Airy USA
6703 Germantown Ave.,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19119
215-844-6021
www.mtairyusa.org
New Kensington CDC
2513-15 Frankford Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
215-427-0350 x 0
www.nkcdc.org
Norris Square Civic Association
149 W. Susquehanna Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-426-8723
www.nscaphila.org
Northwest Counseling Service†
5001 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19141
215-324-7500
www.nwcsonline.com
Nueva Esperanza
4261 N. 5th St.
Philadelphia, Pa 19140
215-324-0746
www.nueva.org
Philadelphia Council for Community Advancement
1617 JFK Blvd., Suite 1550
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-567-7803
www.philapcca.org
Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services*
5234 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19139
215-476-4205
www.phillynhs.org
Philadelphia Senior Center
509 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-546-5879
www.philaseniorcenter.org
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Southwest CDC
6328 Paschall Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19142
215-729-0800
www.southwestcdc.org
Tenant Union Representative Network
(TURN)*
1315 Walnut St., 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-940-3900
www.rturn.net
The Partnership CDC
4020 Market St., Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-307-4917
www.thepartnershipcdc.org
Unemployment Information Center
112 N. Broad St., 11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-557-0822
www.philaup.org
United Communities Southeast
Philadelphia†
2029 S. 8th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
215-467-8700
www.ucsep.org
Urban League of Philadelphia
121 S. Broad St., 9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-985-3220
www.urbanleaguephila.org
West Oak Lane CDC
7300-02 Ogontz Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19138
215-224-0880
Note: agencies subject to change
† Not wheelchair accessible
* Does not provide anti-predatory lending counseling
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