Hawaii homeowners facing foreclosure are reaching out in greater numbers for free assistance from federally sponsored counselors.

The nonprofit Homeownership Preservation Foundation, which operates a toll-free hotline staffed by counselors approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, reported taking 5,344 calls from Hawaii in the first nine months of the year, up 13.6 percent from 4,706 calls in the same period last year.

Nationwide, calls declined 15.2 percent to 1.2 million in the same time frame, according to the Washington, D.C.-based organization.

The hotline is 888-995-HOPE.