Debt consolidation loans and debt "counseling" typically do not solve American consumers' problems.
Consider two prominent examples:

• The Economic Recovery Act of 2009 authorized billions for restructuring "toxic" mortgages-"sub-prime" home finance packages at risk of imminent foreclosure.
  Although relatively few homeowners took advantage of these debt-restructuring opportunities and even fewer received grants, nevertheless one in four grant recipients defaulted on their agreements within 90 days of receiving the money.
  
• The same pattern applies with guaranteed debt restructuring loans: approximately 40% of loan recipients fail to meet the terms and conditions of their agreements, ultimately filing for bankruptcy and hoping to start all over again.
  

For American families on the threshold of economic disaster, loans and debt restructuring do not provide meaningful, substantial economic relief; and the wire services routinely have reported stories of wealthy families going from riches to rags in the course of just a month.
If you number among the one in fifty American families currently at risk of losing everything, consider applying for a federal grant.
As the term implies, a "grant" requires no repayment, and it remains exempt from taxes as long as you meet the award's conditions.
Although you cannot regard your federal grant as the best-ever "Get Out of Jail Free Card," you will discover a federal grant numbers among the best, most effective debt relief tools widely available today.
Especially if you cannot assure you will keep your job as the economic and employment cycles bottom-out, you seriously should consider applying for a federal grant to start your own business.
If you have several years' supervisory or managerial experience in your field, you have the necessary qualifications to receive thousands of dollars in tax-free government funds.
Because small businesses contribute far more to job creation than major corporations do, the so-called "stimulus package" contains handsome rewards for entrepreneurs willing to share start-up risks with two or three loyal employees.
Most small business grants contain liberal allowances for labor costs, and many grant programs assign "technical advisors" to the award winners' projects, so that you have the benefit of a mentor as well as the services of your staff.