Balancing all of our expenses with our income is a process that takes careful planning and consideration.  Sometimes, despite our best efforts, unexpected things happen that cause us to lose that balance.  Jobs can be lost or income reduced.  Accidents or health issues can incur large medical bills and decrease the ability to work.  When these hardships occur, it can feel overwhelming and hopeless.  However, there is hope to recover if proactive steps are taken as soon as possible.  
One of the reasons that foreclosure can feel so confusing and overwhelming is that there is a lot of information about it to process.  This page offers tips for avoiding foreclosure, descriptions of foreclosure alternatives, the foreclosure timeline for Wisconsin, and tips for talking to your loan servicer.
Foreclosure Intervention
An overview of the counseling process from first contact to final resolution and a description of how we help our foreclosure clients.
Click here to download and print out our Foreclosure program application or fill out an online Request for Information at anytime.
The government programs designed to help homeowners are constantly undergoing changes.  The information presented by the media can be confusing and misleading, so the best source of information on these programs is a housing counselor.  Click here for a summary of Making Home Affordable, as well as links to further information.
Foreclosure can be a difficult event with which to cope, and unfortunately, there are people and businesses that try to take use the distress and confusion that foreclosure creates for their own personal gain.  Click here for information about foreclosure rescue scams, tips for avoiding scams, and how to report scams.  
125 E Seminary St, Richland Center, WI 53581   Phone: (608) 647-4949  Fax: (608) 647-8293   Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
It is very important for homeowners to call for help as soon as they begin to fall behind on their mortgage payments.  It's never too late to seek foreclosure assistance; however, the sooner you act, the more effective the help will be.  To be successful, homeowners need to:

1) Open all mail from their mortgage institution
2) Stay in contact with their mortgage institution
      - The mortgage institution may be able to work something out for a
         homeowner who calls as soon as they know they will struggle to make
         their payments.
3) Evaluate their alternatives to foreclosure, including whether or not they
    want to remain in their current home.
4) Call a HUD-approved counseling agency for further assistance
     - NHS of Richland County is a HUD-approved counseling agency.
- If you are outside of our service area of Southwest Wisconsin, there
        are ways to locate a housing counselor near you. Click here.
The Worst Thing to Do is Nothing
"We are neighbors helping neighbors, committed to revitalizing our communities by providing a range of affordable housing services." 
NHS mission statement
NHS of Richland County Home Ownership Center
We have three housing counselors trained in foreclosure intervention who offer real help for homeowners struggling to sustain their housing.  We provide free, confidential phone and face-to-face counseling for homeowners who are currently in foreclosure or who are concerned about falling behind on mortgage payments.  We help homeowners sort through their questions and fears, understand their options, and actually work with their mortgage institution to find acceptable alternatives to foreclosure.  We are an excellent resource for accurate, up-to-date foreclosure and housing information, credit and financial counseling, and referrals to other services and programs.
Links to additonal resources and information concerning foreclosure and how it can be avoided.