Professional help is available for citizens seeking to prevent foreclosures.

The slogan for one state program, Homeowners Preserving Equity is “Mortgage Late?ย  Don’t Wait!โ€ย  Residents can call the Maryland Hope Hotline 1 (877) 462-7555 or log on to

www.mdhope.org. Counselors can provide free counseling services, finance options and fraud intervention.

St. Mary’s County residents can also contact Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee at (301) 475-5574 or (301) 274-4474 or online at www.smtccac.org for foreclosure prevention assistance. This non-profit housing agency is a community organization solely dedicated to guiding consumers with housing related issues.