FACACLASSIC

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HUD - 2492 - Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Housing and Urban Development
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	2492
Original Establishment Date	3/12/2014	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	12
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Housing Program Technical Specialist
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms
Current Charter Date	6/10/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Virginia
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/10/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	F
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Holman
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(540) 894-7790
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	The Dodd-Frank Act (Expand and Preserve Homeownership through Counseling Act, Public Law 111–203, ti	Designated Federal Officer Email*	virginia.f.holman@hud.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	7/21/2010
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Other Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Dodd-Frank Act which established the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) says that the HCFAC will provide advice regarding the carrying out of the functions of the Director. The HCFAC Charter says that the purpose of the HCFAC is to provide advice regarding the carrying out of the functions of the Office of Housing Counseling. The HCFAC is to provide strategic planning and policy guidance to the Office of Housing Counseling to make housing counseling accessible, sustainable, and high quality. The HCFAC plans to accomplish its purpose through policy and programmatic recommendations to Deputy Assistant Secretary. .
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee shall be composed of not more than twelve (12) individuals, appointed by the Secretary. Membership of the committee shall equally represent the mortgage and real estate industry, including consumers and housing counseling agencies approved by the Secretary. HCFAC’s membership will be fairly balanced to include a broad representation of geographic areas within the U.S 42 USC, Section 3533(g) 2012
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Estimated 4 meetings per fiscal year, either virtual, in-person or hybrid meetings
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Mandated by The Dodd-Frank Act (Expand and Preserve Homeownership through Counseling Act, Public Law 111–203, title XIV, § 1441, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2163 (Act), 42 USC 3533(g)
Why close or partially close meetings?	Not Applicable
Recommendation Remarks	As of January 2022, the Secretary appointed a full complement of 12 members to the HCFAC. There were 2 public virtual meetings and 2 in-person meetings during FY2024. The Committee chair for FY2024 was the DAS of Housing Counseling ,as specified in Committee By-laws. GSA Comment: The agency did not complete the FY24 ACR for this committee.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment		Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment		Grants Review Comment	The HCFAC has no role in grant review or aprpovals.
Number Of Recommendations*	12	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	In FY2024, there was a full 12 member HCFAC. The FY2024 meetings were focused on giving the members the information that they will need to make future recommendations. During FY2024, a subcommittee studied the impact of the Nation l Association of Realtors settlement on real estate commissions. Their report, approved by the Committee, made the following recommendations. 1. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling encourage stakeholder engagement and collaboration including organizations such as: National Housing Resource Center, the National Association of REALTORS® National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, the Asian Real Estate Association of America, National Mortgage Bankers Association, the Coalition of HUD Intermediaries, Band others. 2. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling create an online resource center on the HUD Exchange where all best practices, guidance documents, FAQs, and additional resources can be accessed by housing counselors and consumers. 3. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling develop training, meetings and/or webinars to ensure that HUD Certified Housing Counselors are fluent in the new standards. 4. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling incorporate the new standards into the pending update to the housing counseling best practices. 5. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling engage with stakeholders to regularly update its industry and educational initiatives. 6. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling collaborate with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity to ensure that every consumer can purchase the home of their choice in a marketplace free of discrimination. 7. The HCFAC recommends that the Office of Housing Counseling consider the creation of an education and outreach campaign for housing counselors to educate consumers in conjunction with industry trade associations. The previous recommendations from FY2019 remain in place. 1. HUD should engage HCAs to work with Loan Originators on: a. Collecting consumer fees for counseling in the loan transaction. b. Providing credits to closing costs or LLPA for counseled borrowers. 2. HUD should consider the timing of appropriations and create ways to minimize financial stress to agencies on late grant awards. 3. Form Subcommittees as needed to conduct research and expedite work. 4. HUD should promote sustainability of housing counseling agencies. Research alternatives such as a dedicated fee (i.e., $50 at home closing) to go to a fund to distribute to HUD housing counseling agencies. 5. Marketing and awareness/public relations: a. Explore changing the name "housing counseling" and choose a name that makes folks feel good about asking for help. b. Expand the LISTSERVE to include all HCFAC members (done). c. Provide training on social media. Train HUD to better use Facebook, Snapchat and other social media tools. 6. Create continuing ed classes in housing counseling for loan originators and real estate agents. 7. Permit HUD to distribute funds from private funders. Create a pool that donors can contribute to that would supplement the appropriated funds. 8. Bake housing counseling into the mortgage process through incentives and ensure the counseling occurs early Number Of Recommendations Comment Access Agency No Website in the process (prior to contract of sale): a. Require or incentivize housing counseling on FHA loans. b. Review and revise all FHA requirements to embrace housing counseling (origination and loss mitigation). 9. Reverse Mortgage #1: Terms for nonborrowing spouse too onerous. Consider alternatives to evicting the nonborrowing spouse if borrower is in assisted living for more than a year. HUD underwrites for the younger borrower but that borrower can't benefit from it. Train HCs to help them understand NBS requirements. 10. Reverse Mortgage #2: HUD instructions on HECM default can be improved. 1/3 people in T&I default can be helped. HUD should improve directions to lenders, should allow catching up if more than $10,000 in default, should allow those over 80 to catch up. Require lenders to assist borrowers with workouts. Require lender referrals to HECM default agencies. 11. Reverse Mortgage #3: HECM borrowers need keys for cash program where default ends when keys are given. Now they must continue to pay until paperwork is processed. Make it simple. 12. Create a more standardized and streamlined approach to housing counseling across the board. No A. The HCFAC will develop recommendations during FY2023 which will align with Office of Housing Counseling and departmental priorities.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Not Applicable
Agency Feedback Comment*	During FY2024, there was a full 12 member HCFAC. The FY2024 information on the HCFAC is available at hhttps://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hcc/housing_counseling_federal_advisory_committee and https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-counseling/federal-advisory-committee/	Narrative Description*	The mission of the Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) is to provide individuals and families with the knowledge they need to obtain, sustain, and improve their housing. OHC will accomplish this mission by supporting a strong national network of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and counselors. The Committee is to provide advice regarding the carrying out of the functions of the Office of Housing Counseling established pursuant to the authority of Section 4(g) of the HUD Act. To ensure input from stakeholders and other entities, the Committee will not be the sole source of advice to the Office of Housing Counseling.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/14/2025 12:38 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Housing and Urban Housing and Urban Development

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