Report: Foreclosure Counseling Services Need Expanding

Since its debut in 2007, the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, established by Congress to address the housing crisis, has reached more than 1.4 million homeowners, according to the ""Center for Responsible Lending."":http://www.responsiblelending.org/ However, the Center suggests there are plenty of homeowners still in need in still-struggling parts of the country.

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The Center observed metropolitan and rural micropolitan areas for percentages of loans in delinquency, foreclosure, or REO status, and numbers of loans in delinquency.

The Center then compiled a list of areas that are in the worst quintile based on these measures. These areas were listed as ""Areas of Greatest Need"" when it comes to foreclosure counseling resources.

In all, the Center observed 366 metropolitan areas and 576 micropolitan areas. The center determined widespread needs across the country based on its data.

Twenty-one Texas metros made it onto the list of metros in greatest need of additional counseling services--the highest of any state. California and Florida followed closely, however, with 20 metros on the list.

New York and Ohio were also notable with a dozen of their metros labeled ""in greatest need"" by the Center for Responsible lending.

Thirty-three states made it onto the list of rural areas in greatest need. The Center included any state in which half or more micropolitan areas were in the worst quintile for at least one of the categories measured.