Housing Counselors Home Page

HUD provides housing counseling services directly or through private or public organizations with special competence and knowledge in counseling low to moderate income families. Such approved agencies allow HUD to provide further outreach to communities and individuals.  Typically, approved counseling services are offered free or at a reduced cost.

Detailed information and additional requirements of the housing counseling program are provided in the Housing Counseling Program Handbook 7610.1. (A revision is in Departmental clearance and is expected to be posted to the HUD documents web site early next year.) The handbook may be requested by telephone weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. EST by calling toll free (800) 767-7468. Written requests should be addressed to:

US Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Distribution Section, Room B-100,
451 Seventh Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20410.
Facsimiles may be transmitted to (202) 708-2313

The following are a few of the more important criteria that all applicants must meet to receive HUD approval.  Counseling organizations must have:

• Nonprofit Status.  Agencies must function as a private or public nonprofit organization and submit evidence of nonprofit status as demonstrated by Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code;
• Experience.  Agencies must have successfully administered a housing counseling program for at least one year;
• Community Based Mission.  Agencies must have functioned for at least one year in the geographical area that the applicant proposes to serve; and 
• Counseling Resources.  Agencies must have sufficient resources to implement its proposed counseling plan no later than the date of HUD approval.
  

If you are interested in applying, you should review the qualifying criteria and complete the HUD-9900, Application for Approval as a Housing Counseling Agency. Please submit the original with an original signature and one copy of the application form to the appropriate HUD office or homeownership center, as outlined in Appendix 2 of HUD Handbook 7610.1. Local agencies may apply to the Homeownership Center that serves their state. Applications from national and regional organizations should be sent to HUD Headquarters.

We will review the application within 45 days of receipt. If HUD determines that the applicant may qualify as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, the agency must attend a conference before a final determination letter is issued.

Applicants will be notified of application approval or denial within 60 days. If approved, a Letter of Approval will be sent to the applicant. The applicant must sign and date the letter and return it to HUD.

Agencies with questions about the application process or the status of requests should contact the appropriate Homeownership Center.