The first 72 hours
If you are behind, in foreclosure, or facing eviction.
Take it one step at a time. You are not alone, and you have more options than a servicer’s letter suggests. Work down this list in order. The first two steps are the most time-sensitive.
Do this first, if you have a sale date or eviction notice.
Do not sign anything, including a “cash for keys” offer, before you speak to a legal-aid attorney. A pending sale can sometimes be paused, but timing matters. Call a legal line below today.
1 · Reach vetted help today
SSVF (veteran families): 1-877-424-3838. Ask about homelessness prevention & rapid re-housing.
HUD housing counseling: 1-800-569-4287, free, and ask them to point you to legal aid.
Dial 211: local rent, utility, food, and your state’s legal-aid line.
2 · Gather your documents
□ COVID forbearance approval letter · □ every modification offer (rate + new payment) · □ all servicer letters & denial notices · □ your original payment & rate · □ any sale-date or eviction notice.
3 · Start a call log
For every call, write the date, who you spoke with, and what they said. Save every letter, email, and voicemail. Your records may be the only running account of what happened, they matter.
4 · Ask your servicer
“Have you implemented the VA Partial Claim. What is your ETA?” · “Am I being offered a rate no higher than my old rate plus 1%?” · “Are you pursuing foreclosure at the same time (dual-tracking)?” Get answers in writing.
5 · File to create a record
You can file with the CFPB, the VA Inspector General, your State Attorney General, and your member of Congress. Filing builds a record and can prompt casework on your behalf.
6 · You are not the first
Other veteran families have been through this and triage new arrivals every week. Find the community and the full resource list at veteransforeclosurecrisis.org, and share this page with anyone who needs it.
One thing to remember: a “cash for keys” offer asks you to give up your home, and sometimes your rights, for a payment. Never sign it, or any settlement, before a legal-aid attorney reviews it with you.