Associated Press - November 21, 2009 4:14 AM ET

CHICAGO (AP) - Struggling homeowners in Illinois will soon get some guidance.

Officials with the Illinois Housing Development Authority say they've approved allocating $1.4 million in federal grant money to pay for free counseling for homeowners.

The grant comes through the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program. It will pay for 5,000 mortgage delinquency and foreclosure prevention counseling sessions.

The head of the housing authority says financial counseling is the most effective step struggling homeowners can take.

More information is available at http://www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org.

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