Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) and the Housing Counseling Training (HCT) NOFO(FY2025)

The Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) and Housing Counseling Training (HCT) funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Office of Housing. This program is part of HUD’s broader mission to support stable housing outcomes and promote informed housing decisions for individuals and families across the United States. The initiative combines two historically separate funding streams into a single Notice of Funding Opportunity, enabling applicants to pursue support for both direct housing counseling services and the training of housing counselors. The program also includes a Minority Serving Institution initiative designed to strengthen partnerships between housing counseling agencies and institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions. The primary purpose of the funding is to support housing counseling agencies that provide guidance to consumers on renting, purchasing, financing, maintaining, or owning a home. The CHC component focuses on direct service delivery, including one-on-one counseling and group education, particularly for HUD-assisted households, homeowners at risk of delinquency, and individuals needing disaster recovery or homelessness prevention services. The HCT component is designed to strengthen the housing counseling workforce by funding training programs, scholarships, and curriculum development to ensure counselors are equipped with current knowledge and skills. Together, these programs aim to improve housing stability, financial literacy, and long-term economic outcomes for participants. Funding is provided through a combination of grants and cooperative agreements. The CHC program operates as a grant, while the HCT program uses a cooperative agreement structure with significant HUD involvement in program oversight, curriculum approval, and training delivery. Total available funding is approximately 56.1 million dollars, with the majority allocated to the CHC program and a smaller portion dedicated to HCT activities. Funds are distributed on a cost reimbursement basis and must be used for eligible activities such as counseling services, education programs, staff supervision, outreach, and training. Certain restrictions apply, including limitations on reimbursable counseling types and requirements for compliance with federal regulations governing housing counseling programs. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, qualifying nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and state or local government entities. Applicants must be approved participants in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program prior to applying, must maintain active registrations in federal systems such as SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and must meet all regulatory requirements outlined in federal housing counseling rules. For the training component, applicants must demonstrate at least two years of experience providing nationwide housing counseling training services. Individuals are explicitly ineligible to apply. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes standard federal forms, certifications, and program-specific documentation. Applicants must complete required forms such as the SF-424, HUD-specific certifications, and detailed narratives addressing evaluation criteria. Additional materials may include financial audits, evidence of partnerships, and program-specific charts outlining performance, staffing, and funding diversification. Applications undergo a multi-stage review process, including threshold eligibility screening, merit-based scoring on a 100-point scale, and a risk assessment evaluating organizational capacity and past performance. A minimum score of 75 points is required to be considered for funding. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is May 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are anticipated to be announced on August 3, 2026, with the performance period expected to begin immediately thereafter and extend through March 31, 2027. The program operates on an 18-month performance cycle. While this specific funding round has a fixed deadline, HUD has historically issued similar opportunities annually or periodically, suggesting potential recurrence in future fiscal years. Applicants are encouraged to monitor HUD communications and maintain readiness for subsequent funding cycles. Throughout the performance period, grantees must comply with reporting requirements, including submission of progress reports, financial documentation, and performance metrics. HUD maintains oversight authority and may adjust funding allocations, approve program changes, or conduct audits to ensure compliance. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, including improved housing stability, increased financial independence, and expanded access to housing counseling services. By supporting both service delivery and workforce development, this funding opportunity plays a critical role in strengthening the national housing counseling infrastructure.

Focus on demonstrating past performance measurable outcomes diversified funding sources and strong network oversight capabilities