Help offered to at-risk homeowners

Free counseling for homeowners threatened by foreclosure is being offered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. The organization is partnering with five nonprofit groups approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and encourages at-risk homeowners to contact one of them.

The organizations:

» Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii, 532-3225
» Hawaii HomeOwnership Center, 523-9500
» Hawaiian Community Assets, 587-7886
» Legal Aid Society of Hawaii at 536-4302 on Oahu or (800) 499-4302 on the neighbor islands
» Hale Mahaolu on Maui at 872-4100

Tips for avoiding foreclosure rescue scams can be found online from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency at www.hsblinks.com/17b.