Housing Counseling

HUD provides support to a nationwide network of Housing Counseling Agencies (HCA) and counselors. HCAs are trained and approved by HUD to provide tools to current and prospective homeowners, renters so that they can make responsible choices to address their housing needs in light of their financial situations.

Learn more about the Housing Counseling Program.

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Housing Counseling: New Certification Requirements Final Rule

HUD published the Final Rule for Housing Counseling Certification in the Federal Register on December 14, 2016. This rule implements statutory requirements that housing counseling required under or provided in connection with all HUD programs must be provided by HUD Certified Housing Counselors as of August 1, 2020, the final compliance date. The HUD certified housing counselor examination will be available on August 1, 2017. The federal register notice announcing the examination is available on the Certification Requirements Final Rule page.

View the Housing Counseling: New Certification Requirements Final Rule page for links to the federal register notice, the press release, and information about the exam availability and application process.

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Housing Counseling Outreach and Research

The Outreach page provides material to increase public awareness of the benefits of housing counseling services. It includes banner ads, fact sheets, videos, and information about National Homeownership Month.

The Research and Studies page provides recent research evidence on the role of housing counseling to improve housing outcomes for homebuyers, homeowners, and renters.

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Housing Counseling Resources

Housing Counseling Toolkits: Topics include Agency Capacity Building, Disaster Recovery and Emergency Preparedness, and Consumer Protection and Predatory Lending.

Disaster Recovery Flyers

How to Become a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency

HUD-Approved Intermediaries, Multi-State Organizations, State Housing Finance Agencies

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Counseling

FHA Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)

Making Home Affordable Program

Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee

HUD Integrity Bulletins

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Training Resources

Online Training Modules

Webinar Archive

Training and Events Calendar

Training Partners

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Housing Counseling Program News & Announcements

• New FAQs, Presentations, and Trainings for Housing Counselors
  Date Posted: August 21, 2017
• FY 2017 HUD Comprehensive Housing Counseling Grant NOFA Feedback Session
  Date Posted: August 15, 2017
• Read the New Edition of "The Bridge" Newsletter and Register for the Philadelphia NeighborWorks Symposium
  Date Posted: August 11, 2017
• Scholarships are Still Available for Housing Counselors for UnidosUS Training
  Date Posted: August 07, 2017
• Scholarships Are Still Available for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Training Academy
  Date Posted: August 04, 2017
• Scholarships are Still Available for RCAC Training, New HUD Press Releases, and HUD's New FHEO Listserv
  Date Posted: August 03, 2017

View All Housing Counseling Program News & Announcements