State Agencies, Financial & Legal Services

​HOUSING COUNSELING


Maryland Hope - MD Department of Housing and Community Development
Help for Homeowners. HOPE Hotline 877-462-7555 
https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/HOPE/MDHope.aspx 

Maryland Access Point - Maryland Department of Aging
http://www.marylandaccesspoint.info/
MD Dept. of Aging customer service (844) 627-5465
Help for homeowners aged 60 or older.


PUBLIC BENEFITS


Maryland Benefits Center - Benefits Data Trust
Helps individuals apply for benefit programs to help afford food, shelter, healthcare, prescriptions, including assistance with the Food Supplement Program.
https://bd​trust.org/
(855) 444-4994 Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Maryland Department of Human Services​
http://dhs.maryland.gov/about-dhs/customer-service/

(800) 332-6347 Help for Marylanders in financial need.​


FINANCIAL COUNSELING


Securing Older Adult Resources Program (SOAR) 
Economic Action Maryland
2209 Maryland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21218
Tax Credit Hotline: (443) 961-6220
Main number: (410) 220-0494
Assistance with MD Homeowners' and Renters' Property Tax Credits
Earned benefit screenings
Financial coaching and counseling
Consumer education on financial exploitation, common scams, and digital
literacy.


LEGAL SERVICES


Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
https://mvlslaw.org/get-legal-help/apply-for-services/ 
Apply online anytime or call (800) 510-0050 Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(410) 547-6537
For free legal assistance with a tax sale or tax foreclosure matter or deed/ estate issue for income eligible clients. Also assists clients with other civil legal issues.

Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland 
https://probonomd.org/
520 W. Fayette St., Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 837-9379

Maryland Legal Aid Bureau
https://www.mdlab.org/
(800) 999-8904
Free legal assistance with a tax sale matter for income eligible clients. Also assists clients with other civil legal issues.
SEE ALSO regional office locations under Local Counseling & Services link.

Civil Justice, Inc.
http://www.civiljusticenetwork.org/
520 W. Fayette Street, Ste. 410, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 706-0174
Homeowners who do not qualify for free legal assistance may be able to get low cost legal assistance here.

Public Justice Center​
http://www.publicjustice.org/en/
(410) 625-9409​
Free legal assistance for tenants of properties in tax sale foreclosure. 

Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation - Consumer Services Unit​
(410) 230-6077
To report mortgage fraud, foreclosure prevention scam, or mortgage company misstatements, misrepresentations, or omissions made with the intent that another party rely on it. This includes questionable loan servicer activity and loan modification scams.

​​​Maryland Attorney General Office - Consumer Hotline
(410) 528-8662
For complaints about reverse mortgage fraud and other types of consumer fraud.​


TAX CREDITS


Homeowners Property Tax Credit 
Available to residential homeowners who meet certain income requirements. The program sets a limit on the amount of property taxes a homeowner must pay based on their household income.
For more information and to apply, visit: 
https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Homeowners%27-Property-Tax-Credit-Program.aspx 
Call: (410) 767-4433 or (800) 944-7403
Email: sdat.homeowners@maryland.gov
Note: homeowners must re-apply for this program each year between Feb. 1 and Oct. 1. 
Benefits Data Trust - Maryland Benefits Center will help low-income homeowners complete their applications for this credit. https://www.bdtrust.org/location/maryland-benefits-center/?q=m 
(855) 444-4994 Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Maryland Homestead Tax Credit helps homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. It limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage. All homeowners are required to submit a one-time application to establish eligibility for the Homestead Tax Credit on their principal residence. For more information and to apply, visit http://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Maryland-Homestead-Tax-Credit.aspx.  

Maryland SDAT Disabled Veteran’s Exemption https://dat.maryland.gov/SDAT%20Forms/Disabled-Veteran.pdf

Maryland SDAT Blind Person’s Exemption
https://dat.maryland.gov/SDAT%20Forms/Blind-Persons.pdf 

Other Maryland SDAT exemption applications are available here https://dat.maryland.gov/Pages/sdatforms.aspx#PORP under “Exemption Applications.”​