HUD-FHA

November 28, 2012

Presented by: Sarah Gerecke, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Housing Counseling

AGENDA

HUD Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) Our Goals

Impact of Housing Counseling

Authority

OHC: Who Are We?

OHC Offices

Program Oversight and Administration

FY2013 NOFA

Questions

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 2

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OHC Goals

• To help consumers assess their financial situation and achieve their housing goals.

• To increase public awareness of HUD’s housing counseling programs.

• To increase the knowledge and capacity of HUD’s housing counseling network.

• To improve the impact of housing counseling on consumers and neighborhoods nationwide.

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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Trends in Housing Counseling Activity

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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Trends in Housing Counseling Funding

• In February and March 2012, the National Housing Resource Center conducted an informal survey of housing counseling agencies to determine the extent of recent funding reductions and their impact on counseling services.

• 85% of respondents had experienced reductions in funding compared to previous years. Only 3% reported increases in funding.

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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Impact on Agencies

• Respondents were aware of 46 agencies that shut down due to cuts.

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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FY12 Housing Counseling Activity• Despite lower funding and staffing levels, the need for housing

counseling services remains high.• HUD-approved HCAs have served more than 1.2 million

households through the first three quarters of FY 12.• Nearly 80% of clients received one-on-one counseling services.

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 7

The Future: The HUD Office of Housing

Counseling The OHC is an opportunity to improve the

effectiveness, efficiency, scale and impact of housing counseling

The Dodd-Frank Act required HUD to establish a new Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) The OHC came into being on October 1, 2012

Sarah Gerecke appointed Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Office of Housing Counseling

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 8

The Future: The Dodd-Frank Act

Dodd-Frank also prescribed changes for the Housing Counseling Program: Create an Advisory Committee to provide strategic

planning and policy guidance Certify housing counselors through written

examination Examine standards for Program Approval, Materials,

Training, Testing and Counselor Certifications Streamlining the grant application process Certify software systems for consumers to compare

mortgage products to individual financial situationsOffice of Housing Counseling

UpdateNovember 28, 2012 Slide 9

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OHC Organizational Chart

Office of Policy and Grant AdministrationDirector Brian Siebenlist Brian.N.Siebenlist@hud.gov Deputy Director Kristin Johnsen Kristin.Johnsen@hud.gov

Office of Outreach and Capacity BuildingOffice Director VACANTDeputy Director Jerrold Mayer Jerrold.H.Mayer@hud.gov

Office of Oversight & AccountabilityOffice Director Cheryl Appline Cheryl.W.Appline@hud.govDeputy Director VACANT

Division Director Emelda Kennerly Emelda.J.Kennerly@hud.govDeputy Director Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee lorraine.griscavagefrisbee@hud.gov

DivisionDirector Phyllis Ford Phyllis.Ford@hud.govDeputy Director Carolyn Hogans E.Carolyn.Hogans@hud.gov

Office of the Deputy Assistant SecretaryActing Deputy Assistant Secretary Sarah Gerecke Sarah.S.Gerecke@hud.govAssociate Deputy Assistant Secretary VACANT

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 10

67 staff in 30 locationsfrom Alaska to Florida

Offices Within the OHCOffice of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the OHC

The mission of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) is to provide leadership and vision to the OHC, to help consumers assess their financial situation and achieve their housing goals.

The DAS’s Office provides advice to leadership and management of the Department as it relates to legislation, regulation, policy development and grant administration, budget, training and technical assistance, program evaluation and oversight.

The DAS’s office sets the strategic direction for HUD’s OHC.

Office of Policy and Grant Administration The mission of the Office of Policy and Grant Administration is to create a stronger, more

sustainable framework and infrastructure for HUD’s Housing Counseling Programs. Responsible for: Housing Counseling Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) administration;

developing regulations; measuring and reporting housing counseling impact, and addressing stakeholder concerns.

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 11

Office of Outreach and Capacity Building Mission is to train and certify housing counselors and increase

public awareness of HUD’s housing counseling programs. Will work with housing counselors to help prepare them for HUD

certification. Will connect with counselors to listen to their concerns, answer

questions, and discuss new HUD policies and initiatives. Will assemble an Advisory Committee mandated by Dodd-Frank

legislation. Will provide technical assistance to HUD counseling agencies as

needed and requested.

Offices Within the OHC, Continued

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 12

Office of Oversight and Accountability Mission is to ensure quality and effective counseling services through

monitoring and certification of HUD-approved agencies and counselors. Will provide training in all aspects of housing counseling and analyze the

compliance and effectiveness of HUD-approved agencies and counselors. Will gather data and prepare reports on the activities and outcomes of

housing counseling agencies. Will administer contract and certification programs of the Office of

Housing Counseling. Will assist in developing policy and regulations for the OHC; and

recommend/implement sanctions for noncompliance of such regulations.

Offices Within the OHC, Continued

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 13

• Distribute grants quickly, while reducing unnecessary paperwork.• Strengthen relations and communication between HUD and

housing counseling network, in order to achieve broader community impact.

• Ensure quality counseling while streamlining review process.• Fix HUD program requirements and provide training on new

program policy.• Conduct research analysis on the impact of housing counseling.• Report long term impact of housing counseling on consumers and

neighborhoods.• Explore incorporating housing counseling into more public and

private rental and mortgage programs.• Increase the financial viability of housing counseling.

OHC Program Initiatives

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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• Newly Assigned Points of Contact (POC)• Counselor Certification • Encourage HFAs, regional and local coalitions to

consider options of bonding as Intermediary networks• Encourage LHCAs to seek funds through an

Intermediary network• Increase remote monitoring• Approve agencies for up to a three year period based

on several factors

OHC Program Initiatives (cont.)

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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• Please check for the announcement at: www.grants.gov

QUESTIONS?

FY2013 NOFA

Office of Housing Counseling Update

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For More Information

Office of Housing Counseling web page:www.hud.gov/housingcounseling

Questions or comments - housing.counseling@hud.gov

Office of Housing Counseling Update

November 28, 2012 Slide 17