What the Homeowner Protection Program can do, how to prepare for a referral and why notices and deadlines need prompt attention.
If you are worried about losing your home, New York’s Homeowner Protection Program can connect you with free housing counseling and legal help. Begin with the program’s official referral service, especially if you have received court papers or your mortgage payments are becoming difficult to manage.
Contact the official HOPP referral service
The New York Attorney General's homeowner guidance lists the Homeowner Protection Program, usually called HOPP, and its referral number: 1-855-466-3456. Tell the service which county you live in and whether you have received a foreclosure notice or court documents.
Ask for help understanding the stage your case has reached and which documents the counselor or attorney needs. If a document gives a response date, mention it at the start of the conversation. Keep the envelope as well as the notice.
Explain where the mortgage problem stands
Your first conversation will be more useful if you can describe what has happened so far. Have you missed a payment, received a notice from the mortgage company, been served with court papers or received a proposed agreement? These are different situations, and the person helping you needs the current documents.
Read the document’s title and date when explaining it. If you are uncertain what it means, say so and ask a qualified counselor or attorney to review it. Avoid relying on a description from someone who has not seen the papers.
A borrower may be waiting for a mortgage-company response while a separate deadline continues to apply. Explain both matters to the provider. Ask specifically what must happen next and which date controls that action. Keep written confirmation where the provider can supply it.
The purpose of this preparation is to make the referral accurate. You do not need to decide the legal significance of every notice before seeking help. Contact the official HOPP route and describe the facts you have, including any uncertainty.
Understand what help can involve
A counselor can review your circumstances and help you understand possible ways to address mortgage difficulties. Legal assistance can help you understand foreclosure proceedings and your options. The appropriate response depends on your loan, finances and the stage of the case.
HOPP provides assistance through its network. Contacting the program does not guarantee a loan modification or stop a court deadline. The Attorney General’s office states that it cannot make mortgage payments for homeowners. Ask the assigned provider what it can do in your situation.
Prepare a clear record of the problem
Put the following information in one folder so that you can explain the situation without searching through separate messages.
- Recent mortgage statements and correspondence from the mortgage company.
- Any notices or court papers, including the dates received.
- A simple household budget showing income and essential expenses.
- A record of previous requests for assistance and the responses.
- Questions about any offer you have been asked to sign.
Confirm the provider’s identity and secure document process before sharing financial records. You can begin a referral call by describing the problem; ask which personal documents are required for the next step.
Prepare a household picture the counselor can use
A useful budget separates regular income, variable income and essential spending. Use current records and identify expenses that recently changed. If the difficulty followed reduced hours, illness or another disruption, explain when it began and whether the change is continuing.
Include housing-related expenses beyond the mortgage payment, such as insurance, property taxes when paid separately, utilities and necessary maintenance. Ask the counselor what other information is needed. A realistic picture helps the provider understand what the household can sustain.
Keep estimates visible. If income varies, bring the relevant records and ask how the provider wants it presented. Guessing a favorable amount may make a proposed arrangement look manageable when it is not.
A hypothetical homeowner who expects overtime to return should explain that expectation separately from confirmed current income. The distinction matters when considering an ongoing payment commitment. The counselor can help examine the information; the final options depend on the loan and circumstances.
Keep track of calls and promises
Write down the date, the person’s name, the organization and the next agreed action after each conversation. Keep copies of forms you submit. If you are told to wait for a response, ask when to follow up and whether anything else must happen in the meantime.
Be cautious about anyone promising to save your home for an advance fee or pressuring you to transfer ownership. Discuss an unfamiliar agreement with the attorney or counselor assisting you before signing. The Attorney General’s guidance explains foreclosure rescue scams and where to seek help.
Evaluate an offer without losing track of other obligations
If someone offers a payment arrangement or mortgage change, request the full written terms. Ask the provider assisting you to explain the payment amount, duration, total obligations and what happens after any temporary period. A lower initial payment may leave other questions unresolved.
Identify who made the offer and who has authority to approve it. Keep copies of the documents you receive and the records you submit. If an offer is described only over the phone, ask how to obtain the written version before making a decision.
Be particularly careful about a proposal involving a deed, ownership transfer or a fee for promised foreclosure relief. The New York Attorney General’s homeowner guidance explains rescue scams. Discuss an unfamiliar arrangement with a qualified provider before signing or paying.
If the provider cannot reach you during working hours, agree a practical contact method and monitor it. Update contact details when they change. Access to free help is useful only if the next appointment, document request or deadline can reach the household.
Choose help that matches the immediate need
For an urgent foreclosure concern, contact HOPP directly. For a separate question about repairs or energy costs, read N4SF’s guide to home repair assistance or guide to improving an older Staten Island home. These programs have different purposes and requirements.
Stable housing is central to a sustainable future. Getting qualified help early gives you a clearer understanding of the choices and deadlines affecting your home.