HUD Revises Housing Counseling Funding Priorities
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a new funding opportunity for housing counseling agencies nationwide, along with changes to the types of counseling services eligible for federal support.
According to HUD, approximately $56 million in grant funding will be made available through the agency's Housing Counseling Program. The funding supports HUD-approved housing counseling organizations that provide education and guidance to homebuyers, homeowners, renters and households facing housing-related challenges.
One of the most significant changes in this year's funding opportunity is a revision to eligible counseling activities. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that certain services previously eligible for funding, including one-on-one pre-purchase counseling, will no longer be supported through this grant program. Funding will instead focus on activities such as rental counseling for HUD-assisted households transitioning to unassisted housing, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) counseling, disaster preparedness and recovery counseling, and homeless prevention services.
Housing counseling programs have long served as a resource for consumers navigating the homebuying process, particularly first-time buyers seeking assistance with budgeting, credit preparation, mortgage readiness and understanding the path to homeownership.
The changes come as housing affordability and access to homeownership remain key concerns across New York and the nation. While HUD has not indicated how the revised funding structure may affect individual counseling agencies, organizations that receive federal housing counseling grants will need to align their programs with the activities identified in the new funding opportunity.
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies operate throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City region, providing a range of educational and counseling services to consumers. The agency is currently accepting applications for the funding opportunity through its Office of Housing Counseling.
