HUD’s FY23 Housing Counseling Training Grant Program – Empower Consumers and Maximize Federal Funding Impact

General Information

• Document Type: Grants Notice
• Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6700-N-30
• Funding Opportunity Title: FY23 NOFO Housing Counseling Training Grant Program
• Opportunity Category: Discretionary
• Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
• Category of Funding Activity: Housing
• Expected Number of Awards: 6
• CFDA Number(s): 14.316 — Housing Counseling Training Program
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
• Version: Synopsis 1
• Posted Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Last Updated Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Original Closing Date for Applications: Nov 30, 2023 The application deadline is 11:59:59 PM Eastern time on
• Current Closing Date for Applications: Nov 30, 2023 The application deadline is 11:59:59 PM Eastern time on
• Archive Date:
• Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 2,750,000
• Award Ceiling: $2,750,000
• Award Floor: $0

Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Additional Information on Eligibility: Non-profit organizations, other than institutions of higher education, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be a public or private non-profit organization and must submit evidence of tax-exempt status under section 501(a) and be an entity described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRC (26 U.S.C. 501(a) and (c)(3)). Applicants must have at least two years of experience providing housing counseling training services nationwide to housing counselors employed by housing counseling agencies participating in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. Applicants are not required to be HUD Approved HCAs. Applicants may utilize in-house staff, sub-grant recipients, Training Partners (see definition of Training Partners in the instructions for HUD-92910 Chart E and in the definitions section of this NOFO), qualified third-party trainers, and consultants, with requisite experience and capacity. HUD strongly encourages the partnering by Grantees with State Housing Finance Agencies (SHFA) and other Training Partners. However, only a non-profit organization must be designated as the primary Applicant. This NOFO is structured to encourage agencies to sub-allocate funding to Sub-Grantees or Training Partners or both. Sub-Grantees and Training Partners may include 1) SHFAs; 2) local, county or state governments; or 3) local or state housing coalitions or networks that are public or private non-profit organizations. Sub-Grantees and/or Training Partners in the third category must have Federal tax-exempt status under IRC section 501(a) as an entity described in IRC section 501(c)(3) [(26 U.S.C. 501(a) and (c)(3)). Applicants for financial assistance must have an active registration in the SAM (www.sam.gov) before submitting an application. In addition, applicants and subgrantees must have a UEI Number. Getting a UEI number and completing SAM registration can take multiple weeks; therefore, Applicants should start this process or check their status early. See also Section IV.B for necessary form and content information.    Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Additional Information

• Agency Name: Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Description: The purpose of this assistance is to continue investing in the creation and maintenance of a professional and effective housing counseling industry that is able to meaningfully assist consumers by providing them with the information they need to make informed housing choices and maximizes the impact of Federal funding appropriated for HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. Statutory requirements enacted as part of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) require that individual housing counselors participating in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program shall demonstrate, by written examination, that they are competent in providing counseling in each of the core topics provided at section 106(e)(2)(12 U.S.C. 1701x(e)(2). HUD published the Final Rule implementing Housing Counseling Certification requirements on December 14, 2016 at 81 FR 90632. A revision of the certification timeline was later published in a Final Rule on December 4, 2020 at 85 FR 78230. The Final Rule requires that HUD provide or make available housing counselor certification training and examination to housing counselors from HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. HUD will use the funds available under this NOFO to award grants to one or more organizations that provide training in the core components of housing counseling. The award(s) will enable the successful organization(s) to support housing counselors’ training in a wide variety of methods of their choosing, including but not limited to in-person instruction, webinars, videos, workbooks, and one-on-one counseling. Training may also include, but is not limited to, counseling on housing needs, homeownership/rental opportunities, and meeting financial responsibilities. Grant funds may be used to support training of counselors who counsel clients on seeking, financing, maintaining, renting, or owning a home. Grant funds may also be used to support housing counselor training on addressing financial literacy, property maintenance, and other matters that would assist clients in improving their housing conditions, meeting their financial needs, and fulfilling the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership. Grant funds may not be used for lobbying or advocacy activities. In addition, grant funds may not be used for indirect costs. The period of performance for the grant agreement is 36 months from the effective date of the award.
• Link to Additional Information: Link to Opportunity in SAMS Domestic