Fair Employment Practices Listed by State
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is the nation's largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling organization. The NFCC's mission is to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. NFCC members help more than two million consumers annually through nearly 1,000 community-based offices nationwide.
Debt Management Plan
DMP is a systematic way to pay down your outstanding debt through monthly deposits to your credit counseling agency, which will then distribute these funds to your creditors. By participating in this program, you may benefit from reduced or waived finance charges and fewer collection calls. And when you have completed your payments, they'll help you reestablish credit.
Budget and Debt Plan
Homeowner Crisis Resource Center
Don’t wait if you think you will be late on your mortgage. This is a place to get help with potential foreclosure on your home.
FREE Consumer Video
"Avoiding Foreclosure" is a consumer education DVD that introduces you to four clients who found themselves in mortgage trouble for different reasons and sought assistance from an NFCC-certified housing counselor. The DVD does several things. First, it introduces consumers to some of the terms and scenarios they are likely to encounter as they work to save their own home. Second, it familiarizes consumers with the process of avoiding foreclosure. Third, it shows examples of a variety of life situations and challenges facing individuals and families who are facing foreclosure and what they did (with the help of an NFCC-certified housing counselor) to address it
This DVD is free of charge and a public service offered by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
Use the National Locator Line or Zip Code Locator to find your closest NFCC member agency.
Local Afforable Rental
In addition to the federal rental assistance programs, there may be programs sponsored by your state or local government or other organizations that can help you. Select the state that interests you.
DebtAdvice.org is designed to help consumers understand the wise use of credit and locate a trained, certified counselor if you are in need of assistance.
Help with Food
Food Bank Network to help in crisis.
Help paying your utility bills
Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills.
Weatherization Assistance Program
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
Coping with Unemployment
The current state of the economy has resulted in layoffs for many Americans. It’s never a good time to lose your job but The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers the following tips for surviving a layoff, should one occur:
• Allow yourself to be upset or even afraid. These are natural reactions. However, should they become intense, be willing to seek professional help. Talking things through and hearing another person’s perspective can bring relief and restore your positive outlook
Resist the urge to tell your boss what you truly think of him or her. Remember, you may need him or her as a reference for a future job.
• Take advantage of any assistance your workplace offers. Many companies provide placement assistance , job retraining and severance packages. Make sure you are aware of all benefits offered.
• Seek unemployment help. Apply for any applicable government benefits. Your HR representative at work will be a good resource.
• Resist the urge to solve your problems by spending recklessly. It may feel good for the moment, but the high of spending won’t equal the low of dealing with additional debt when there is no income.
• Don’t be tempted to live off of your credit cards. Someone with a good line of credit could actually support the family at the current standard of living by using credit, but there’s no guarantee a new position will materialize any time soon. One rule of thumb job counselors use is to expect one month of job search for each $10,000 of annual income you hope to replace. In other words, if you seek a $50,000 salary, it may take you five months to land that job.
• Take a personal inventory. Consider all assets, income and expenses. Hopefully, you will not have to liquidate any assets to survive, but it is good to know what you have to fall back on.
• Drastic times call for drastic measures. Nothing is off-limits. If necessary, consider selling the second car, or any recreational vehicles, real estate holdings, rental properties or jewelry.
• After reviewing income versus debt obligations, if there is not enough money to make ends meet, calculate how much is needed to meet the basic household living expenses. Your goal is to pay everyone, but if you must make a choice, keep your home-life stable by paying your rent or mortgage, utilities, childcare, insurance premiums, health care, food and keeping gas in the car
• Have a family meeting that includes the children. You don’t want people pulling in different directions, and a joint effort yields a greater result. Make cutbacks wherever possible, knowing that this austere lifestyle will only be temporary. Resolve to stop all non-essential spending immediately.
• Tracking your spending is always a good idea, but when money is tight, it’s essential. Write down every cent you spend. At the end of 30 days, review where the money went and make conscious decisions on where to cut back. You’ll be amazed by how much you can save and not even feel the pinch.
• Contact your creditors to arrange lower payments. Most major credit card issuers have in-house help programs. Explain your situation and what you’re doing to resolve it. The creditor may be able to temporarily lower your monthly payment and reduce interest.
• Call your mortgage lender or servicer and inform them of your situation. Be prepared to provide them with documentation of the setback, and have a resolution plan in mind. Since the
average consumer doesn’t know all of the loan modifications available, it is smart to first sit down with a certified housing counselor and map out a plan. This way, you’ll know that you’ve selected the option that is best suited to your situation.
“No one is immune to a layoff. Stalwarts of the American economy have laid-off workers by the thousands. Financial setbacks are never easy, but with help, most can survive unscathed."
