Minnesota Mortgage Help and Foreclosure Prevention Programs
Minnesota homeowners who are struggling to keep up with mortgage payments have access to a statewide network of free counseling agencies, state assistance programs, and legal aid organizations. The resources below, with the Minnesota Homeownership Center being a key statewide coordinating agency, cover what's available and where to go first.
All legitimate foreclosure prevention help in Minnesota is free. Under state law, it is illegal for a foreclosure consultant to charge upfront fees for services related to saving your home. If someone asks for money in advance to modify your loan or stop a foreclosure, that is a scam — walk away
Minnesota Homeownership Center — Start Here
The Minnesota Homeownership Center coordinates a statewide network of HUD-certified housing counselors and is the most direct entry point for any homeowner in trouble. A counselor can review your mortgage situation, help you communicate with your servicer, and connect you to financial assistance programs you may qualify for. Services are free. Toll-free: 866-462-6466 and website is https://www.hocmn.org/.
The Center's website has a "Find an Advisor" locator searchable by location and language, and full page translations in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish. Counselors in the network have helped more than 40,000 Minnesota households avoid foreclosure since 2008.
Minnesota Housing
Minnesota Housing is the state's housing finance agency and manages several programs relevant to homeowners in difficulty. Borrowers with a Minnesota Housing-originated mortgage can work with their servicer, U.S. Bank, on repayment and hardship options when payments fall behind. Minnesota Housing also funds the network of housing counseling agencies operating statewide through its Homeownership Education, Counseling and Training (HECAT) program.
For homebuyers or homeowners looking to refinance into a more stable loan, Minnesota Housing's Start Up program (first-time buyers) and Step Up program (repeat buyers) offer competitive fixed rates and down payment assistance options. Website: https://www.mnhousing.gov/.
HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agencies
Beyond the Minnesota Homeownership Center's network, HUD-approved nonprofit agencies operate in communities across the state — from the Iron Range to the southwest corner — providing free one-on-one counseling for mortgage delinquency, foreclosure prevention, and pre-purchase planning. For a verified listing organized by region, see our Minnesota HUD Housing Counseling Agencies page. The national HUD hotline — 800-569-4287 — can also connect callers to a certified counselor anywhere in Minnesota.
Free Legal Help for Foreclosure
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible homeowners facing foreclosure across southern Minnesota, including Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Attorneys can step in when a servicer has made errors in the process, a loan has predatory terms, or a homeowner needs representation rather than counseling. SMRLS is also a HUD-certified housing counseling agency, so it can handle both sides of a case. Address is 55 E 5th St, Suite 400, Saint Paul, MN 55101. Phone 651-222-5863 and website is https://www.smrls.org/.
For legal help in other parts of the state, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and Volunteer Lawyers Network also take foreclosure cases. Minnesota's 211 service (dial 2-1-1) can connect homeowners to the appropriate legal aid office for their county.
211 Minnesota
Dial 2-1-1 for referrals to local housing assistance, emergency financial help, and community resources anywhere in the state. Operators are available around the clock and can connect homeowners to county-level programs that may help stabilize a housing situation while a mortgage workout is being negotiated.
Minneapolis and Saint Paul
Homeowners in the Twin Cities metro have access to additional city and county-level programs beyond the statewide resources above. See our pages on Minneapolis foreclosure prevention and Saint Paul foreclosure prevention for agency listings and local assistance specific to those areas.
Multilingual Assistance
Several agencies in the Minnesota counseling network provide services in languages other than English. CLUES (651-379-4200) serves Spanish-speaking homeowners across the metro and greater Minnesota. LSS Financial Counseling (888-577-2227) has Spanish and Hmong speakers available statewide. The African Development Center (612-333-4772) provides counseling in Amharic, Oromo, Somali, and Swahili. NeighborWorks Home Partners (651-292-8710) has Somali, Spanish, and Hmong staff at its Saint Paul and Minneapolis offices.
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