The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced this week it awarded $42.8 million in housing grants to increase housing counseling nationwide.
Nearly half of the states receiving grants were chosen based on Opportunity Zones.
These funds are intended to help one million Americans make more informed housing choices, keep their current homes and even receive assistance to help avoid foreclosure, HUD said in a release.
From renters to homeowners, each state will receive funding for comprehensive counseling.
“HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are on the front lines of helping individuals and families to find affordable rental housing or make more informed homeownership choices,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a release. “The funding we announce today will help families to realize their dreams-whether it’s owning a home, avoiding foreclosure, or finding an affordable place to rent.”
The grants will directly go towards supporting the respective housing counseling services provided by HUD-approved local housing counseling agencies, as well as national and regional organizations and state housing finance agencies.
Recipients of the grants will receive services addressing housing counseling needs, including evaluating readiness for homebuying and navigating the homebuying process.
The organizations will also help households find affordable housing, offer financial literacy training and offer foreclosure prevention counseling. These organizations also help the homeless with finding transitional housing and help seniors with their mortgages.
The grant will be spread out across 44 of the 50 U.S. states.
