LaGRANGE – As part of the long parade of groups in desperate need of funding that approached the Troup County Board of Commissioners for consideration on Tuesday before the county drafts next year’s budget, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Georgia/East Alabama could only lay out its case and hope for the best.

The credit counseling service operates out of Columbus and had a satellite office in LaGrange until last year when it had to close due to finances. The service provides free counseling on financial hurdles like rent management, student loan management, bankruptcy counseling, corporate counseling and debt counseling.

“The clients that we see in this area are in need of our services,” said Director Mary Riley. “… Consumer Credit Counseling has been in operation since 1986, and during that time we have helped a lot of people save their homes from foreclosure. We’ve helped a lot of people purchase homes for the first time. We’ve helped a lot of people get out of debt, and we’ve prevented a lot of people from filing bankruptcy.”

The non-profit service is certified by the US Treasury and the better business bureau.

The credit counseling service helped 285 clients from Troup County last year according to Riley, and while Habitat for Humanity has agreed to help secure a location for the service to reopen in LaGrange, funds are still needed in order to reopen the office. The service requested $30,000 from the county commission, and if the commission or another donor does not step forward, the LaGrange office will remain closed.

To learn more about the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Georgia, East Alabama visit http://www.cccs-wga.com/plaintext/home/home.aspx or call 706-327-3239.