President Bush made a rare stop in New Jersey Friday to discuss the mortgage crisis afflicting the nation.

Bush arrived at McGuire Air Force Base around 2 p.m. He was then taken by helicopter to Freehold, where he toured the credit counseling facilities at Novadebt.

Novadebt crunches numbers for homeowners and works with lenders, who are becoming more flexible. It is also one of the agencies offering free and affordable credit counseling through a national hotline operated by the Hope Now Alliance.

Despite the aid offered from places like Novadebt, many people going through hard times are looking to the government for a bailout in order to save them from financial peril.

Bush made a statement on the mortgage crisis during his time at the Novadebt facilities, but did not mention a possible bailout.

"We will help responsible homeowners weather a difficult period," he said.

Novadebt's hotline can be reached at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

President Bush's Freehold mortgage crisis speech

Bush to address housing issues in Garden State visit