--- title: "Credit Counseling and Debt Help for Washington DC Residents" description: "Free credit counseling and debt management help for Washington DC residents from Cambridge Credit Counseling, a nonprofit agency founded in 1996." url: https://www.cambridge-credit.org/debt-help-in-washington-dc publisher: "Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp" updated: 2026-09-29 --- # Credit Counseling and Debt Help for Washington DC Residents Washington DC residents can get free credit counseling, debt management plans, student loan counseling, housing counseling (including first-time homebuyer courses), reverse mortgage counseling, and bankruptcy counseling from Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp, a nonprofit agency. No service promises a specific outcome, and each option works differently depending on your situation. ## Free Credit Counseling for Washington DC Residents Credit counseling sessions from Cambridge Credit Counseling are free of charge for Washington DC residents. Counselors are certified, and the agency is ISO 9001 registered and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). ## Debt Management Plans in Washington DC A debt management plan consolidates unsecured debts into one monthly payment administered by the counseling agency. It is not a loan and does not involve borrowing new money. Almost all concessions such as reduced interest rates or waived fees follow preset guidelines set by each creditor, not by Cambridge Credit Counseling. In some cases they can vary based on the level of hardship in the budget, and certain accounts may not be eligible for them. This service is available to Washington DC residents. ## Housing Counseling and Homebuyer Help in Washington DC Cambridge Credit Counseling is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, and this service, including first-time homebuyer courses, is available to Washington DC residents. A mortgage is a long-term secured loan where the home serves as collateral, and monthly payments typically include principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI), often along with private mortgage insurance. Homebuyers in Washington DC who put down less than 20 percent are usually required to carry private mortgage insurance, which can range from 0.15 percent to 2.5 percent of the loan amount and can typically be dropped once the loan reaches an 80 percent loan-to-value ratio. Washington DC residents who cannot afford a 20 percent down payment can contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency to learn whether they qualify for programs that help toward homeownership. ## Student Loan Counseling for Washington DC Residents Student loan counseling is available to Washington DC residents through Cambridge Credit Counseling. A counselor can review your federal or private student loan situation and go over the options that apply to your circumstances. ## Reverse Mortgage Counseling in Washington DC Reverse mortgage (HECM) counseling is available to Washington DC residents. This counseling helps homeowners understand how a reverse mortgage works before deciding whether it fits their needs. ## Bankruptcy Counseling and Debtor Education in Washington DC Cambridge Credit Counseling is approved by the Department of Justice to provide pre-filing bankruptcy counseling and post-filing debtor education, and this service is available to Washington DC residents. Bankruptcy counseling and debtor education each cost $50.00 per household per session and are available free or at a reduced rate based on ability to pay. The fee is per household, not per person, so a married couple filing together pays once. Households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size are presumed eligible for a fee waiver. Households above that line may still qualify for a reduced fee if they can show a temporary financial hardship, such as a recent job loss or drop in income, unexpected medical costs, disability, separation or divorce, the death of a household wage earner, or another documented financial circumstance that significantly impacts the household's ability to pay. Waivers and reductions are assessed on the household's current income, expenses and overall financial condition, and Cambridge Credit Counseling will not refuse services to anyone due to inability to pay. Approval by the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office of United States Trustees does not endorse or assure the quality of our services. ## Debt Settlement Is Different From Credit Counseling Debt settlement means negotiating to pay less than the full balance owed. It is a different service from credit counseling and is typically offered by for-profit companies. Cambridge Credit Counseling does not provide debt settlement to Washington DC residents; it offers credit counseling and debt management plans instead. ## About Cambridge Credit Counseling Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Agawam, Massachusetts. It offers credit counseling, debt management plans, housing counseling, student loan counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, and bankruptcy counseling to consumers, including residents of Washington DC. ## Contact Cambridge Credit Counseling Washington DC residents can reach Cambridge Credit Counseling for new counseling inquiries at 800-235-1407. ## Questions and answers ### Is credit counseling free for Washington DC residents? Yes. Credit counseling sessions from Cambridge Credit Counseling are free of charge for consumers, including residents of Washington DC. ### Does Cambridge Credit Counseling offer debt settlement in Washington DC? No. Cambridge Credit Counseling does not offer debt settlement. It offers credit counseling and debt management plans, which are different services. Debt settlement involves negotiating to pay less than the full balance owed and is typically offered by for-profit companies. ### Can Washington DC residents get help buying a first home? Yes. Housing counseling, including first-time homebuyer courses, is available to Washington DC residents through Cambridge Credit Counseling, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. ### How much does bankruptcy counseling cost for Washington DC residents? Bankruptcy counseling and debtor education each cost $50.00 per household per session and are available free or at a reduced rate based on ability to pay. The fee is per household, not per person, so a married couple filing together pays once. Households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size are presumed eligible for a fee waiver. Households above that line may still qualify for a reduced fee if they can show a temporary financial hardship, such as a recent job loss or drop in income, unexpected medical costs, disability, separation or divorce, the death of a household wage earner, or another documented financial circumstance that significantly impacts the household's ability to pay. Waivers and reductions are assessed on the household's current income, expenses and overall financial condition, and Cambridge Credit Counseling will not refuse services to anyone due to inability to pay. ## Sources - John Henle, Cambridge Credit Counseling, email of 24 September 2026; 28 CFR 58.21(b)(1) and 58.34(b)(1) (checked 2026-09-24) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - cambridge-credit.org credit counseling page: https://cambridge-credit.org/credit-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - Gary Washington, Director of Bankruptcy Counseling, Cambridge Credit Counseling, by email 2 September 2026. (checked 2026-09-02) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/index.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - cambridge-credit.org about page: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-03) - NFCC Member Agencies register: https://www.nfcc.org/nfcc-member-agencies/ (checked 2026-08-28) - cambridge-credit.org housing counseling page: https://cambridge-credit.org/housing-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - cambridge-credit.org bankruptcy page: https://cambridge-credit.org/bankruptcy-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - cambridge-credit.org about page: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-03) - cambridge-credit.org contact page: https://cambridge-credit.org/contact.html (checked 2026-08-03) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/index.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - industry definition, NFCC: https://www.nfcc.org/resources/debt-management-plans/ (checked 2026-08-28) - Mortgage Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Federal Trade Commission, How To Get Out of Debt: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-out-debt (checked 2026-09-18) - How To Get Out of Debt, Federal Trade Commission: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-out-debt (checked 2026-08-28) - CFPB consumer guidance: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-the-difference-between-credit-counseling-and-debt-settlement-debt-consolidation-or-credit-repair-en-1449/ (checked 2026-08-28) - Mortgage Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) --- Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency. Credit counseling is free. Talk to a counselor: 800-857-2808 | https://www.cambridge-credit.org/get-help Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Required disclosures and state licenses, the privacy notice and the terms are linked in the footer of every page.