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Helpful Tools
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Housing
Counseling Agencies can SUBSCRIBE
to the Single Family Housing e-mail list.
You will get frequent updates on Housing Counseling
subjects, training, FHA mortgage limit increases, event announcements, mortgagee
letters and notices about your Single Family Housing business.
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How
to become a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency
Section
106(a)(2) of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 USC 1701x)
provides the legislative authority for HUD to provide housing counseling services
directly or through private or public organizations with special competence and
knowledge in counseling low and moderate income families. 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
(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
program handbook lists the qualifying criteria that all applicants must meet to
receive HUD approval. A few of the more important are: 1.
Nonprofit Status. The applicant must function as private or public nonprofit
organization. The agency must submit evidence of nonprofit status as demonstrated
by Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code. 2.
Experience. The applicant must have successfully administered a housing counseling
program for at least one year. 3.
Community
Base.
The applicant must have functioned for at least one year in the geographical area
that the applicant proposes to serve. 4.
Counseling Resources. The applicant must have sufficient resources to implement
its proposed counseling plan no later than the date of HUD approval. After
reviewing the qualifying criteria, agencies interested in applying must complete
the HUD-9900,
Application for Approval as a Housing Counseling Agency, and submit an original
with an original signature, and one copy of the application form. Applications
should be submitted to the appropriate HUD office or homeownership center as outlined
in Appendix 2 of HUD Handbook 7610.1. Local agencies apply to the homeownership
center that serves their states. Applications from national and regional organizations
should be sent to HUD Headquarters. The
application will be reviewed within 45 days of receipt. If,
after review of the application, HUD determines that the applicant may qualify
as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, a conference will be arranged before
a final determination letter is issued. Within
60 days, the applicant will be notified whether the application was approved or
denied. 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 their requests should
contact their HUD office. |