Foreclosure counseling services are in high demand in Philadelphia, and this demand strains the limited resources of nonprofit homeownership counseling agencies, according to a study released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Analyst Thomas Hylands digs deep and finds several points of pain along the foreclosure process. Among them:

-- The industry is heavily reliant on government funding; however, access to that money comes with a significant administrative burden.

-- Housing counselors bear a heavy workload, which is exacerbated by bureaucratic reporting requirements.

-- Staff training is particularly problematic: Staff turnover and stringent requirements for continued funding make it difficult for agencies to maintain a staff of counselors who have the necessary qualifications.