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Free foreclosure help in Ohio

Free foreclosure help in Ohio comes mostly from HUD-approved housing counselors, legal aid and county court mediation programs. Pick the situation below that matches yours and call that organization first. Ohio's Homeowner Assistance Fund program is closed, and you never have to pay a company to ask for mediation or claim excess funds. If a court deadline is running, call the same day.

Free HUD counselor: (800) 569-4287

Reviewed against Ohio law and official sources on October 12, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Ask for help in Ohio

Free. A person replies with the options and official help that fit. Messages about a scheduled sale are answered first.

For example: a sale date, what your servicer has told you, or what changed in your income. Please do not include your loan number, Social Security number or bank details.

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Who to call first, by situation

  • You are not behind yet but expect trouble

    Before you miss a payment

    Call your servicer at the number on your statement and ask what hardship options exist. Ohio Attorney General: Foreclosure Resources at 800-282-0515 lists statewide and county help, including free housing counseling.

  • You are behind but have not been sued

    As soon as you miss a payment

    Send your servicer a complete application for help in writing and meet a HUD-approved housing counselor. Ohio Housing Finance Agency posts homeowner program news, but its Save the Dream Ohio program is closed and federal HAF money ended on 30 September 2026.

  • You were served with a foreclosure complaint

    Immediately; 28 days to answer

    Use Ohio Legal Help: Foreclosure for the free answer form and its legal aid finder. Then contact your county mediation program through Supreme Court of Ohio: Foreclosure Mediation Contacts by County. Supreme Court of Ohio: Foreclosure Mediation in Ohio explains how to ask, and its Dispute Resolution Section is at 614.387.9420.

  • A sheriff's sale date has been set

    The same day you learn of it

    Call legal aid through Ohio Legal Help: Foreclosure about a motion to stay the sale or about redeeming before confirmation. If you need a private lawyer, Ohio State Bar Association: Find a Lawyer has a directory of licensed Ohio attorneys.

    Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.33

  • Your servicer is not following the rules

    As soon as the problem happens

    Write down dates, names and what was said, and send your servicer a written complaint. Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions licenses non-bank lenders and servicers and accepts written complaints. Tell your mediator too if the case is in mediation.

  • A rescue company contacted you

    Before you sign or pay anything

    Ohio's debt adjusting law caps fees, for example at $75 for an initial setup. Never pay an upfront fee or sign over your deed. Report the company to Ohio Attorney General: Foreclosure Resources at 800-282-0515.

    Ohio Rev. Code § 4710.02

Official and nonprofit help in Ohio

None of these charge homeowners for foreclosure help.

Need a private foreclosure lawyer?

License-checked lawyers who represent homeowners, by area:

Save the Dream Ohio (Homeowner Assistance Fund)

Ohio's Homeowner Assistance Fund program, Save the Dream Ohio, is closed. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency announced in September 2023 that it was winding down, and the program website no longer shows an application. The Attorney General's foreclosure page still lists statewide referral numbers. For help now, contact a HUD-approved housing counselor or legal aid.

Check the program’s current status

Common questions in Ohio

Where can I get a free foreclosure lawyer in Ohio?

Ohio Legal Help has a legal aid finder that shows the free civil legal aid program for your county. Legal aid helps people who meet income rules and the program's priorities. If you do not qualify, the Ohio State Bar Association's directory can help you find a licensed attorney.

Is Save the Dream Ohio still taking applications?

No. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency announced in September 2023 that Save the Dream Ohio was winding down, and the U.S. Treasury says federal HAF money could not be used after 30 September 2026. Free help from housing counselors and legal aid is still available.

How do I find my county's foreclosure mediation program in Ohio?

The Supreme Court of Ohio posts a county by county contact list for foreclosure mediation. Programs, forms and deadlines differ by county, so call the contact for the court handling your case. You can also call the Supreme Court's Dispute Resolution Section at 614.387.9420.

Step by step

More on foreclosure in Ohio

Understand the process

What is happening and how much time there is.

Weigh your options

What can stop it, and what happens if it goes ahead.

Get help now

Who to call, and what to do when a sale is scheduled.

Back to the Ohio overview

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Sources for this page

  1. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.153, Official public sheriff sale website
  2. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.53, Return of writ
  3. Supreme Court of Ohio: Foreclosure Mediation Resources
  4. Ohio Legal Help: Foreclosure timeline in Ohio
  5. Franklin County Sheriff: Real Estate Sale FAQ
  6. Summit County Sheriff: Eviction Process
  7. Union County, Ohio: Sheriff Sales
  8. Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 2329, Execution Against Property
  9. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.26, Notice of date, time and place of sale
  10. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.33, Redemption by judgment debtor
  11. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.08, Limitation of enforcement of deficiency judgment
  12. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.44, Excess payable to debtor
  13. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.52, New appraisement, second auction
  14. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.31, Confirmation and order for deed
  15. Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.20, Two-thirds of appraised value
  16. Ohio Rev. Code § 4710.02, Debt adjusting fees
  17. Ohio Legal Help: Foreclosure
  18. Supreme Court of Ohio: Foreclosure Mediation Program Model Overview
  19. OHFA news release: Save the Dream Ohio Winding Down (September 6, 2023)