Housing Counseling Program

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This program supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters, and the homeless. The primary objectives of the program are to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing and preserve homeownership. Counselors provide guidance and advice to help families and individuals improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership. Additionally, counselors may provide counseling services to homeowners to prevent or resolve mortgage delinquency, default, and foreclosure, with the primary objective to preserve homeownership. Counselors provide guidance and advice to help families and individuals meet the responsibilities of homeownership and modify or refinance their loans. Counselors also help borrowers avoid inflated appraisals, unreasonably high interest rates, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and eventually foreclosure. Counselors can also assist homeowners with inquiries related to mortgage scams, and reporting instances of potential mortgage scam victimization. Applicants funded through this program may also provide Reverse Mortgage Counseling to senior homeowners who seek to convert equity in their homes into income that can be used to pay for home improvements, medical costs, living expenses, or other expenses. FUNDING: Housing counseling funding is distributed over four applicant categories Local Housing Counseling Agencies $10,250,000, Intermediaries $25,800,000, State Housing Finance Agencies $2,800,000, and Multi-State Organizations $1,200,000.

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