Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary | https://www.hud.gov/leadership#sec
Vice President Kamala Harris and HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is set to award nearly $40 million to expand comprehensive housing counseling services for homebuyers, homeowners, and renters across America. The funds will be provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling.
The funding aims to provide individuals and families with essential education and resources to make informed decisions about their housing needs and opportunities. Vice President Harris and Acting Secretary Todman will highlight this new funding during their visit to Milwaukee, WI as part of the Vice President’s nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour.
"Homeownership represents more than just a roof over our heads; it represents financial security, the opportunity to build wealth and equity, and a foundation for a better future for ourselves, our children, and future generations," said Vice President Harris. "That is why President Biden and I are continuing to address barriers to housing by announcing $40 million to expand housing counseling services in communities across the country."
HUD plans to award grants to more than 165 housing counseling agencies and intermediary organizations. Fourteen grantees will also partner with 60 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to support new homeowners of color and other marginalized communities.
In Milwaukee today, Vice President Harris and Acting Secretary Todman will discuss the importance of these funds as well as the broader work of the Biden-Harris Administration in reducing housing costs for American consumers. HUD estimates that over $300,000 of this new funding will go towards assisting consumers in Wisconsin.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling David Berenbaum said: “We’re proud to make these funds available to HUD-certified housing counselors, who are often the first point of contact for those seeking support with their housing needs.”
Since 2020, HUD has helped over 3 million individuals and families to obtain, sustain, and retain their homes. The department supports a strong national network of 1,480 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and over 4,300 HUD-certified housing counselors.
In 2023 alone, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies served nearly one million individuals and families. Since 2020, HUD has awarded over $140 million in grants to support this work.
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide services to address a full range of housing needs including budgeting and financial education; education and one-on-one counseling to renters, homebuyers and homeowners; helping unhoused individuals transition to affordable housing; education on emergency preparedness and assisting families with disaster recovery; and helping seniors determine whether a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or other reverse mortgage makes sense for them.
