Salisbury, Md. – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has announced more than $2 million in funding to support housing counseling services.

The state assistance grants will support 43 organizations across Maryland that provide housing counseling services, low-cost legal assistance, or capacity building through the Maryland Housing Counseling Fund. One of the organizations set to receive some of the funding on the Eastern Shore is Delmarva Community Services Inc.

Officials say the effort is to make sure the state’s most vulnerable can access stable housing and avoid foreclosure, bankruptcy and other challenges. DHCD Assistant Secretary for Homeless Solutions Danielle Meister said the purpose of the programs are to keep homeowners in their homes.

“The home buying process can be really complicated. And not everybody knows what their options are if they’ve fallen behind and they’re having trouble paying their mortgage,” she said in an interview with WMDT.

She said mortgage servicers can offer many options, including loan modification options.

“And so part of this program is helping people understand their rights,” she said.

She encouraged people who think they may have trouble making their mortgage payment or who have fallen behind to reach out as soon as possible, saying a tagline DHCD has used during public campaigns is “mortgage late, don’t wait.”

“It’s really important that you are reaching out for help the moment you get behind on your mortgage, because you really do have a lot more options the earlier you talk to your servicer,” she said.

More information on foreclosure prevention can be found on the DHCD website.