Help with your Financial Crisis
To find more Consumer Info resources, go to our website and click RESEARCH
GUIDES on the left, then "And More" on the right.
http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/help-with-your-financial-crisis/
Money Problems
Financial Solutions of the Carolinas at Gastonia / Family Service, Inc. offers free housing counseling services, debt
management and debt reduction counseling, budgeting and monthly expenses planning, and mortgage payment
assistance through the North Carolina Foreclosure Prevention Fund.
Go to: http://www.greatergaston.org/gaston
Located in the United Way Offices at:
214 E Franklin Blvd (Corner of Oakland & Franklin)
Gastonia NC 28052
704-862-0702
1-888-213-8853 (Toll Free)

332.024 BLU (2011). The Wall Street Journal Guide to Starting Fresh: How to Leave Financial Hardships Behind and
Take Control of Your Financial Life.

332.024 CHA (2010). Money 911: Your Most Pressing Money Questions Answered, Your Money Emergencies Solved.

332.024 SAN (2009). What to Do When the Economy Sucks: 101 Tips to Help You Hold On to Your Job, Your House,
and Your Lifestyle.

332.024 TUC (2012). The Handy Personal Finance Answer Book.

346.73 LEO (2011). Solve Your Money Troubles: Debt, Credit, & Bankruptcy.
Remember to check out a company with the Better Business Bureau before you give them your personal information or
money.
Go to: http://www.bbb.org/
Loans & Grants
Loans
 Advance-Fee Loans
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0078-advance-fee-loans

Scam Alert: Payday, Title, and Signature Loans
Go to: http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/scams-fraud/money/loan-scams.html
Citation:
Gaston County Public Library
“Help With Your Financial Crisis” - Revised 2 May 2013
http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/help-with-your-financial-crisis/
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
Information about Online Payday Loan scams from Federal Trade Commission.
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0249-online-payday-loans

Getting a Loan: Important information from 20 Federal agencies and Bureaus designed to help you make smart
financial choices.
Go to: http://www.mymoney.gov/category/topic1/getting-loan.html

A deferment or forbearance allows you to temporarily postpone making your federal student loan payments or to
temporarily reduce the amount you pay.
Go to: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/deferment-forbearance
Grants
The government does not contact you by email, phone or postal mail to offer you a grant, nor does
the government ask for fees to give you money. Most government grants go to organizations, not to
individuals.
Go to: http://www.grants.gov/aboutgrants/eligibility.jsp

Government Grants and Loans for Individuals: Many people look to the government to find out how to apply for a
grant or to get "free money," which they have seen advertised on television or in various publications. Grants usually
go to state and local governments or nonprofit organizations, which then use the money to run local programs. It
may be difficult for an individual to qualify for a federal grant. USA.gov has information about legitimate grant and
loan opportunities.
Go to: http://1.usa.gov/mcICrT

R361.763 FOU (Ready Reference) (2011). Foundation Grants to Individuals.
Available at the Reference Desk at the Main Library.
Foreclosure & Mortgage Help

North Carolina Foreclosure Prevention Fund offers help to North Carolina homeowners
who are struggling to make their mortgage payments due to job loss or other temporary
financial hardship, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or serious illness. Call 1-888623-8631 to learn more or to find out if you are eligible.
Go to: http://www.ncforeclosureprevention.gov/
http://www.ncforeclosureprevention.gov/spanish.aspx

Financial Solutions of the Carolinas at Gastonia / Family Service, Inc. offers free Foreclosure Prevention programs
and assistance.
Go to: http:// http://www.greatergaston.org/housing-counseling/

346.73 ELI (2011). The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away with Money in Your Pocket.

Learn how to avoid Mortgage Relieve Scams from the Federal Trade Commission.
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0100-mortgage-relief-scams
http://www.consumidor.ftc.gov/temas/prestamos-hipotecarios
INTERNET SITES ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE LIBRARY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT OF SITES MAINTAINED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PERSONS.
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
Avoiding Foreclosure: North Carolina: Guidance on default and foreclosure prevention.
Go to: http://www.hud.gov/local/nc/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm
http://espanol.hud.gov/local/nc/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm?lang=es

Making Home Affordable: Lower your monthly mortgage payments, get into more stable loans, avoid foreclosure,
and discover the options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are
worth.
Go to: http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/
http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/spanish/Pages/default.aspx

Homeowner Help: Information on refinancing, foreclosure prevention, housing discrimination, etc.
Go to: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/homeownerhelp

Law Help of NC: Housing
Go to: http://www.lawhelpnc.org/issues/housing
http://www.lawhelpnc.org/languages/ES/housing
Credit, Credit Counseling, & Debt Management

Get your Free Credit Report and make sure it is accurate.
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports
http://www.consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/s0155-informes-de-credito-gratuitos

Financial Solutions of the Carolinas at Gastonia / Family Service, Inc. has certified credit counselors available to help
you.
o Credit Counseling
Go to: http://www.greatergaston.org/credit-counseling/
o
Debt Management
Go to: http://www.greatergaston.org/debt-management/

332.024 CLA (2009). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Out of Debt.

332.7 LEO (2011). Credit Repair.

332.743 SEM (2011). The Complete Credit Repair Kit: A Plain English Guide to Improving Your Credit Score and Fixing
Your Credit.

332.743 WES (2012). Your Credit Score: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future.

Credit - Out of Control Debt: How to pick a Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS).
Go to: http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_credit_debt_assistance.shtml
http://www.usa.gov/gobiernousa/Temas/Dinero/Credito/deudas-fuera-de-control.shtml

Choosing a Credit Counselor from the Federal Trade Commission.
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0153-choosing-credit-counselor
http://www.consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/s0153-escogiendo-un-asesor-crediticio
INTERNET SITES ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE LIBRARY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT OF SITES MAINTAINED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PERSONS.
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
Managing Debt and Credit: Important information from 20 Federal agencies and Bureaus designed to help you make
smart financial choices.
Go to: http://www.mymoney.gov/category/topics/managing-debt-and-credit.html
http://www.mymoney.gov/category/espanol/manejode-deudas-y-credito.html

National Foundation for Credit Counseling: The nation's largest financial counseling organization.
Go to: http://www.nfcc.org/
http://espanol.nfcc.org/index.cfm
Bankruptcy

Financial Solutions of the Carolinas at Gastonia / Family Service, Inc. offers both bankruptcy classes that are required
for filing bankruptcy, as well as a list of bankruptcy attorneys in Gaston County.
Go to: http://www.greatergaston.org/bankruptcy/

346.73 ELI (2011). How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

346.73 ELI (2012). Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Keep Your Property & Repay Debts Over Time.

Debt Relief or Bankruptcy? Learn which is right for you from the Federal Trade Commission.
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0084-debt-relief-or-bankruptcy
http://www.consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/s0084-alivio-de-deuda-o-bancarrota

Filing for Bankruptcy: What to Know from the Federal Trade Commission.
Go to: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0224-filing-bankruptcy-what-know
http://www.consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/s0224-presentar-su-declaracion-de-bancarrota-personal-lo-que-necesita-saber

"Consumer Bankruptcy Center: Frequently Asked Questions" answers questions about the purpose and types of
bankruptcy available in the United States.
Go to: http://consumer.abi.org/consumers/faq
Legal Aid

Legal Aid of North Carolina - Gastonia Office
Go to: https://www.legalaidnc.org/public/learn/locations/offices/gastonia/
https://www.legalaidnc.org/Public/Learn/spanish.aspx
1508 S. York Road, Gastonia, NC 28052
704-865-2357; 1-800-230-5812 (toll-free; for clients only)
FAX: 704-865-2359

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
Go to: http://www.lssp.org/page2.html
http://www.lssp.org/enespanol.html
Client help line: 704-376-1600
Outside Mecklenburg County: 800-438-1254
Legal Services for the Elderly: 704-334-0400
Veterans Legal Services: 704-808-4144
Fax: 704-376-8627
Email: info@lssp.org
800-247-1931
INTERNET SITES ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE LIBRARY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT OF SITES MAINTAINED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PERSONS.
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
LawHelp.org: Find legal help and information.
Go to: http://www.lawhelp.org/NC/
http://www.lawhelpnc.org/languages/ES
Managing Your Money

332.024 HOU (2010). Living Life After Divorce & Widowhood: Financial Planning, Skills, and Strategies for When
the Unthinkable Happens.

332.024 SWA (2010). The Complete Guide to Managing Your Parents' Finances When They Cannot: A Step-byStep Plan to Protect Their Assets, Limit Taxes, and Ensure Their Wishes are Fulfilled.

332.024 TYS (2012). Personal Finance for Dummies.
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In Crisis teaches you about how to manage your finances during life's difficult times.
Go to: http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Life-Stages/In-Crisis

MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial
education.
Go to: http://www.mymoney.gov/
http://www.mymoney.gov/home-es.html
More Information

Avoiding Frauds, Scams, and Cons
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/avoiding-scams-frauds-and-cons/

Grants & Grantwriting
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/grants-grantwriting/

Your Health Dollar
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/your-health-dollar/

Resources for the Disabled
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/resources-for-the-disabled/

Going to College
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/education/going-to-college/
Citation:
Gaston County Public Library
“Help With Your Financial Crisis” - Revised 2 May 2013
http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/consumer-info/help-with-your-financial-crisis/
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