PRESS RELEASE

Dallas - September 17, 2009 - Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas (CCCS of Greater Dallas), a nonprofit provider of free housing and credit counseling, and financial education, has been named a Multi-State Organization (MSO) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

As an MSO agency, CCCS of Greater Dallas is eligible for HUD grant funds through its branch offices in a multi-state service area. This designation enables the entire agency to offer expanded resources to consumers in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. CCCS of Greater Dallas was originally recognized as a HUD-approved housing agency in 1979, and has held its status as a Local Housing Counseling Agency since that time. The agency was approved as an MSO in March. The status will go into effect in October when the new grant period begins.

"We are honored to be named an MSO by HUD," said Linda Davis, assistant housing director for CCCS of Greater Dallas. "It's a reflection of the critical housing counseling and education we provide at our 22 offices in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. We can now use HUD funding to supplement services in every area we serve."

The work provided through this grant will include foreclosure prevention, pre-purchase, post-purchase, reverse mortgage, rental and homeless counseling. The agency will expand its services to homeowners, renters and the homeless with primary objectives to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, and preserve homeownership for those impacted by the recession.

CCCS of Greater Dallas serves as one of eight nationally HUD-approved housing counseling agencies supporting the Homeowner's HOPE™ Hotline (888-995-HOPE). It offers trained housing counselors to assist families and individuals to improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership. Counselors strive to provide tools and education needed to recognize and make informed decisions on buying a home or keeping a home, if delinquent. Our foreclosure prevention counseling outlines available options including forbearances, repayment plans, loan modifications or refinancing, and reviews soft landing options such as a deed in lieu or short sale for those whose housing situation is no longer affordable.

Counselors are available to assist homeowners in reviewing loan documentation and provide services to prevent or resolve mortgage delinquency with the primary objective of sustainable solutions.

To find out more about CCCS of Greater Dallas housing services or free budget and credit counseling, and education, call (800) 249-2227 or visit www.cccs.net.

About CCCS of Greater Dallas
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas, Inc. is a nonprofit, community based credit counseling and debt management service. Established in 1974, CCCS Dallas and its affiliate offices provide financial education and counseling to consumers in-person, by phone, or Internet through their 24 locations in four states. CCCS Dallas is a HUD accredited counseling agency and serves as one of eight counseling agencies supporting the 888-995-HOPE Hotline. The agency is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the nation's largest and longest serving national non-profit credit counseling network. To learn more about CCCS Dallas' free seminars or the agency's services, visit www.cccs.net.