From the Washington Post:

Counselors help homeowners examine their finances; what it will take to catch up with payments, if that's feasible; and how the foreclosure process works.

They also work with lenders, often spending hours trying to reach the right representative. Urban joked that he has passed so much time on hold that he can play "name that tune" with the canned music.

Officials worry that counselors may quit over burnout or find better jobs just as demand is soaring, said Meg Burns, director of the Office of Single Family Housing Program Development for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The complete story is here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/02/AR2007110201201.html

There is also more information here: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2007110205