Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE, Inc (Baltimore, MD)

General

• Mission:

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland & Delaware, Inc. (CCCS) is a stand-alone non-profit 501(c)(3) community service organization whose mission is to promote economic self-sufficiency to individuals, families and communities through financial education and counseling. CCCS is governed by a diverse, volunteer Board of Directors, composed of community leaders, educators and representatives from the banking industry. The Directors lend their expertise in support of the organization by supporting management in establishing policy and monitoring organizational operations. CCCS is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), a trade association with more than 100 member agencies. Membership in the NFCC signifies that CCCS meets the highest quality standards. We are accredited by both the Council on Accreditation and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). CCCS has an A+ rating with the BBB. CCCS does not outsource any of our client services. We serve all segments of the community regardless of income, race, ethnicity, etc. CCCS does not lend money nor are we a collection agency. Our programs and services are made possible primarily through voluntary “fair share contributions” from the credit industry as well as public and private grants.

• History:

CCCS was originally known as Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Baltimore. Members of the business community, state and local government officials, members of the judiciary community, educators, and members of various religious organizations established the organization to benefit the general public by (1) providing educational programs to support the proper use of consumer credit, (2) providing individual and group advice and counseling, and (3) collaborating with public and private agencies and organizations with a shared mission. In response to a growing demand for financial literacy counseling and education services across the state of Maryland, in 1977, CCCS changed its name to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and began servicing the entire state. In 1998, in response to the continued increase in demand, the Board of Directors elected to expand our service area again to include the state of Delaware. Thus, the name was change to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland & Delaware.

Historically, CCCS has been a leading advocate for financial literacy. Community education is a vital component of our mission. We provide educational programs to various audiences, including businesses, public and private educational institutions, faith-based community, military, nonprofits, community-based organizations and individuals. Participants are educated on topics such as basic money management, how to maintain a good credit record, and wise use of credit. In 2010, CCCS conducted 255 community outreach workshops with nearly 18,000 participants.

Annually, CCCS counsels to more than 30,000 individuals, either in-person, by telephone or over the Internet. Our financial counseling services include an assessment of the client's financial condition, including income and expenses, establishment of a budget for self guidance, personalized action plans to achieve long- and short-term financial goals and, if appropriate, establishment of a Debt Management Plan (DMP). A DMP is a systematic way for a client to pay down outstanding debt through monthly deposits to CCCS that are distributed to creditors. There are no charges for financial counseling and no set-up fees for DMPs. To offset the costs of managing a DMP, clients pay a nominal monthly fee. Most clients reach CCCS through our toll-free hotline. In 2010, CCCS received over 111,000 calls.

In response to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which mandates counseling and education for all individuals filing for bankruptcy, CCCS sought and received approval from the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees to become a Pre-file Bankruptcy Counseling and Pre-discharge Bankruptcy Education provider. CCCS was the first bankruptcy counseling provider in the state of Maryland. Our bankruptcy counseling provides a bankruptcy overview discussion, including the various reasons for filing bankruptcy, exploration of alternatives, if available, and the consequences of bankruptcy. Counseling is available in-person and by telephone. Pre-file counseling is available online. In 2010, we provided bankruptcy counseling and education services to 380 clients.

In early 2008, in response to the growing housing crisis, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) requested that CCCS become a certified housing counseling agency through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This was a natural transition for us since all of our counselors were already certified by the NFCC to conduct housing counseling. Counselors are certified in reverse mortgages, loss mitigation, mortgage delinquency, pre-purchase education and default resolution counseling. In December 2010, CCCS was awarded a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Urban Development to partner with the agency in implementing and managing the Maryland Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, a program designed to assist homeowners at-risk of foreclosure. In 2010, we provided housing counseling services to nearly 2,400 clients.

• Year established:1966

Registration

• Organization type:Grantseeker
• Country of registration:United States
• Year established:1966
• Tax Determination Letter:Received Determination Letter
• IRS Section:501(c)(3)
• IRS Subsection:None

Web Listing

• Guidestar listed:Yes
• Charity Navigator listed:No
• Give.org listed:Yes
• Charity Watch listed:No