Housing Counseling Program Homeownership Initiative

The Homeownership Initiative (HI) helps to bridge the homeownership gap by increasing homeownership rates among historically underserved borrowers. HUD-approved Intermediaries, Multi-State Organizations, and State Housing Finance Agencies will receiv

The Homeownership Initiative (HI) helps to bridge the homeownership gap by increasing homeownership rates among historically underserved borrowers. HUD-approved Intermediaries, Multi-State Organizations, and State Housing Finance Agencies will receive fixed amount awards to provide culturally sensitive linguistically appropriate pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling that results in home purchase.

Qualified public or private nonprofit organizations. There are three categories of eligible applicants: (1) HUD-approved intermediary; (2) State housing finance agency; and (3) multi-state organizations.

This grant is a Fixed Amount Award (2 C.F.R. 200.1), adhering to the Federal requirement of Fixed Amount Awards outlined in 2 C.F.R. 200.201(b). The following conditions apply: a) Definition of Unit. For this NOFO, a unit is defined as a household that has successfully completed the following three components: pre-purchase counseling; purchase of a home and mortgage origination; and post-purchase counseling, or certification that post-purchase counseling will be completed 6-12 months after home purchase and mortgage origination. Pre-purchase counseling topics may include, but are not limited to, the topics listed in 24 C.F.R. 214.300(e)(1). Post-purchase counseling refers to counseling relevant to the client after home purchase and mortgage origination. Topics could include, but are not limited to, those listed in 24 C.F.R. 214.300(e)(2) and (3).

This grant is a Fixed Amount Award (2 C.F.R. 200.1), adhering to the Federal requirement of Fixed Amount Awards outlined in 2 C.F.R. 200.201(b). The following conditions apply: a) Definition of Unit. For this NOFO, a unit is defined as a household that has successfully completed the following three components: pre-purchase counseling; purchase of a home and mortgage origination; and post-purchase counseling, or certification that post-purchase counseling will be completed 6-12 months after home purchase and mortgage origination. Pre-purchase counseling topics may include, but are not limited to, the topics listed in 24 C.F.R. 214.300(e)(1). Post-purchase counseling refers to counseling relevant to the client after home purchase and mortgage origination. Topics could include, but are not limited to, those listed in 24 C.F.R. 214.300(e)(2) and (3).

Funding assistance is for a discrete period of time, 12 months. Funding must be spent during the grant's designated Period of Performance. Grant payments are released quarterly during the Period of Performance.

HUD will review applications in accordance with the requirements of the NOFO and the Housing Counseling Program.

All applications will be scored on a 100 point scale, not including preference points. If available funds are insufficient to provide grants to all Applicant's achieving the minimum fundable score, grants will be awarded in rank order until all available funds have been distributed. HUD reserves the right to adjust the minimum fundable score.

For a period of at least 120 days, beginning 30 days after the public announcement of awards under this NOFO, HUD will provide a debriefing related to their application to requesting applicants. Information provided during a debriefing may include the final score the applicant received for each rating factor, final evaluator comments for each rating factor, and the final assessment indicating the basis upon which funding was approved or denied.