The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development‘s (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling announced today that it provided $2.75 million in grants to seven nonprofit organizations to support training and education for existing and prospective HUD-certified housing counselors.
“Our nation’s housing counselors are important to helping people of all backgrounds get the guidance and resources they need to buy and maintain a home,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is proud to help support current and prospective housing counselors, so they have all the tools they need to assist those in pursuit of the American dream.”
This comes after Fudge, the 18th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced her resignation as head of the Department, effective March 22, 2024.
As President-Elect, Joe Biden nominated Fudge as Secretary of HUD on December 10, 2020. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced her nomination by a vote of 17-7 on February 4, 2021, and she was confirmed by the Senate as HUD Secretary on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 66-34. She was virtually sworn in by VP Kamala Harris on March 10, 2021, becoming the second African-American woman to serve as HUD Secretary.
“Knowledgeable housing counselors are instrumental to helping households make informed choices about their financial options,” said Julia Gordon, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner. “We are pleased to support these organizations that are so vital to ensuring that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.”
Nonprofit organizations receiving funding awards:
- National Association of Real Estate Brokers-Investment Division, Inc, Oakland, CA ($82,500)
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation, West Sacramento, CA ($396,246.39)
- National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Inc. (Washington, D.C. ($578,416.92)
- Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. DBA NeighborWorks America, Washington, D.C. ($524,936.58)
- Unidos US, Washington, D.C. ($420,930.75)
- Housing Action Illinois, Chicago, IL ($391,035.89)
- Neighborhood Stabilization Corporation, Boston ($355,933.47)
Total = $2,750,000
“Investing in professional development not only strengthens the housing counseling community; it enables them to provide the best assistance available to individuals and families that need support with their housing needs,” said David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling.
To read the full release, click here.
