Housing Counseling

HUD provides support to a nationwide network of Housing Counseling Agencies (HCAs) 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.

President Donald J. Trump Directs FEMA Support Under Emergency Declaration for COVID-19

On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a nationwide emergency pursuant to Sec. 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”). This increases federal support to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in its role as the lead federal agency for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response. As a result of the President’s decisive, unprecedented action, FEMA is directed to assist state, local, tribal, territorial governments and other eligible entities with the health and safety actions they take on behalf of the American public.

Read the full emergency declaration.

Certification Landing Page and Resources

Timer

Countdown to August 1, 2020:

Since the release of the Final Rule, HUD has been collecting best practices, FAQs, instructional pages, and other resources to help housing counseling agencies meet the new requirements. The Final 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 by August 1, 2020.

View Certification Resources

HECM Default Counseling Guidance

HUD recognizes the need to expand the number of agencies and counselors who can provide default counseling for HECM borrowers and has released new guidance to help meet this goal.

View the new HECM webpage on the HUD Exchange to view HUD's guidance on both origination and default HECM counseling.

Housing Counseling Outreach

View a suite of brochures your agency can use to promote housing counseling including the social media toolkit, homeowners guide to success, first-time homebuyer videos and much more.

Order and Download Outreach Materials

Beat the Odds Benefit of Housing Counseling Infographic

Disaster Resources for Housing Counselors

Housing Counseling Disaster Recovery Toolkit

The Housing Counseling Disaster Recovery Toolkit is an online guide created to help Housing Counseling Agencies (HCAs) prepare for disaster events and engage with local partners that receive funding following disasters. This toolkit is for HCAs, Intermediaries, State Housing Finance Agencies, and Multi-State Organizations seeking to play an active and effective role in local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Disaster and Emergency News and Resources

This page contains a collection of news, resources, and guidance to assist housing counselors with response and recovery efforts specific to disasters. Check this page for resources for housing counseling agencies and news and updates about the disasters as they become available. View the Disaster Recovery Flyers to help inform members of your community the benefits of working with a housing counselor during emergency and disaster recovery.

Housing Counseling Technology

The Technology page is for housing counseling agencies to incorporate technology and leverage web platforms in their counseling delivery.

New Read the recently added information about electronic signatures.

Housing Counseling Resources

Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee

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

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Counseling

Housing Counseling National and Regional Coalitions

Training Resources

Training Digest: View upcoming trainings from HUD, HUD-funded partners, and other OHC training partners.

Online Training Modules

Webinar Archive

Training and Events Calendar

Training Partners

Housing Counseling Research

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