Community Highlight: Resources for Struggling Homeowners
Free, local help you may not know exists — right here in Riverside County
One of the most painful parts of financial hardship is the feeling that you’re facing it alone. You may be behind on your mortgage, unsure of your rights, or simply overwhelmed by the number of decisions in front of you — and you don’t know where to turn. What many Riverside County homeowners don’t realize is that their community has built an entire network of free, compassionate resources designed for exactly this moment. Today we want to shine a light on them — because knowing where to go for help is the first step toward finding it.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”— Galatians 6:2
That verse isn’t just for Sunday mornings. It describes what a healthy community actually looks like in practice — neighbors, organizations, and families stepping in for one another in hard times. These resources are Riverside County’s version of that.
Free Local Resources for Homeowners in Need
Foreclosure Prevention & Housing Counseling🏛️Fair Housing Council of Riverside County
Provides free, confidential foreclosure prevention counseling to homeowners experiencing financial hardship. HUD-certified counselors help you review your situation, develop a monthly spending plan, and communicate with your lender — including assistance applying for loan modifications.Free · Confidential(951) 682-6581🤝NID-HCA of Riverside & San Bernardino Counties
Offers free, HUD-approved foreclosure prevention counseling for homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments or at risk of foreclosure. Certified counselors help you negotiate with your mortgage servicer on loan modifications, repayment plans, and forbearance. Available by phone, Zoom, or in-person.Free · HUD-Approved(951) 399-4538📋Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management
A HUD-approved nonprofit offering homeownership preservation counseling, foreclosure prevention, credit and debt management, and pre-bankruptcy guidance. Confidential services help you understand your full financial picture and develop a plan to stabilize it.Nonprofit · HUD-Approved(800) 449-0650County & Government Housing Programs🏠Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions (HWS)
The county’s primary housing assistance hub, administering programs for low-to-moderate income homeowners including mortgage relief, foreclosure prevention referrals, and first-time buyer assistance. Their foreclosure assistance page connects struggling homeowners with current grant and deferral programs.County Programrivcohws.org📞Riverside County Department of Public Social Services
For homeowners at risk of losing stable housing, DPSS offers wrap-around services including emergency housing assistance and CalWORKs support for families with children. If your hardship has reached crisis level, this department connects you with county and community partners who can help.County Resource · Emergency Helprivcodpss.orgNational Resources with Local Access🌐HUD-Approved Housing Counselors
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains a nationwide directory of free, approved housing counselors — many serving Riverside County directly. These counselors offer unbiased guidance on all your options, from loan modification to short sale to managed exit strategies.Free · Federal Resourcehud.gov📊Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
If you’re confused about your mortgage rights, what your servicer is required to do, or how to submit a complaint, the CFPB’s mortgage tools are a powerful free resource. Their plain-language guides walk distressed homeowners through every stage of the process.Free · Federal Resourceconsumerfinance.gov
Watch out for scams: Loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams are widespread in Southern California. If any organization asks for upfront fees before providing help, promises to stop a foreclosure with a guaranteed outcome, or pressures you to sign documents quickly — walk away. All legitimate foreclosure prevention counseling in the resources above is free.· · ✦ · ·
You Were Not Meant to Carry This Alone
Hard seasons reveal the character of a community — and Riverside County has shown, through organizations like these, that it takes seriously the call to help its neighbors. Whether you need someone to negotiate with your lender, a counselor to help you understand your options, or simply a compassionate voice that can explain what’s happening in plain language, these resources exist for you.
We believe in referring homeowners to every resource that can genuinely help — even when that resource isn’t us. If any of the organizations above can solve your problem, we’ll be the first to tell you. And if a fast, fair cash sale turns out to be the right fit, we’re here for that too — with the same honesty and care we’d want for our own families.
Take one step today. One call. One website visit. Hardship grows harder in silence — and in Riverside County, there are people ready and waiting to help you find your way forward.