Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) and the Housing Counseling Training (HCT) NOFO (FY2026)
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations providing comprehensive housing counseling and training services to help low-income households achieve housing stability. Eligible applicants include HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, nonprofits with experience in housing education and counseling, and capacity-building organizations that train counselors. Applicants must have established infrastructure for delivering counseling services across multiple topics (homeownership, rental assistance, financial management) and ability to serve diverse populations. Programs can operate at local, regional, or national level. Funding supports both direct counseling services and the training programs that prepare housing counselors. Priority given to organizations with track records serving underserved and vulnerable populations.
Key dates
- Apr 22, 2026 Applications open
- Sep 21, 2026 Application deadline in 112 days
- Oct 1, 2026 Award announced
- Oct 1, 2026 Project start
This grant is for organizations providing comprehensive housing counseling and training services to help low-income households achieve housing stability. Eligible applicants include HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, nonprofits with experience in housing education and counseling, and capacity-building organizations that train counselors. Applicants must have established infrastructure for delivering counseling services across multiple topics (homeownership, rental assistance, financial management) and ability to serve diverse populations. Programs can operate at local, regional, or national level. Funding supports both direct counseling services and the training programs that prepare housing counselors. Priority given to organizations with track records serving underserved and vulnerable populations.
Program description
The purpose of HUD’s Housing Counseling Grant Program is to provide funds to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners, with respect to property maintenance, financial management and literacy, and other matters as may be appropriate to assist program clients in improving their housing conditions, meeting their financial needs, and fulfilling the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership. This NOFO plays an integral role in helping individuals and families obtain housing and stay in their homes through sustainable homeownership or affordable rental housing. Housing counseling agencies are an important safeguard in the prevention of housing scams and discrimination and serve as an important gateway to local, state, federal and private housing assistance and resources.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for organizations providing comprehensive housing counseling and training services to help low-income households achieve housing stability. Eligible applicants include HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, nonprofits with experience in housing education and counseling, and capacity-building organizations that train counselors. Applicants must have established infrastructure for delivering counseling services across multiple topics (homeownership, rental assistance, financial management) and ability to serve diverse populations. Programs can operate at local, regional, or national level. Funding supports both direct counseling services and the training programs that prepare housing counselors. Priority given to organizations with track records serving underserved and vulnerable populations.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (Project/Performance Site Location(s))
- Narrative/Project Description (typically 15-25 pages)
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Proof of 501(c)(3) status or eligible entity documentation
- Audited financial statements (most recent 2 years)
- Documentation of HUD housing counseling agency approval or application status
- Organizational capacity documentation (staffing plan, resumes of key personnel)
- Letters of support from community partners and stakeholders
- Data/evidence of past program performance and client outcomes
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
- Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
Program contact
- 👤 Gabriela Roman
- 📧 Housing.Counseling@hud.gov
- 📞 Housing.Counseling@hud.gov
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 14.169 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$3,692,732
-
$3,542,382
-
$3,500,850
-
$3,497,880
-
$3,259,097
-
$3,000,000
-
$2,807,560
-
$2,603,729
-
$2,601,586
-
$2,363,869
Top States by Funding
- DC 16 awards $21.7M
- MA 9 awards $14.3M
- CA 9 awards $10.9M
- PA 8 awards $10.6M
- NY 8 awards $10.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 14.169). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $53 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the CHC/HCT grant?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, nonprofits with documented housing counseling experience, and organizations that can demonstrate capacity to deliver comprehensive counseling services. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or other eligible entities with appropriate governance and financial management systems.
What activities and services are funded?
Funding supports comprehensive housing counseling (pre-purchase, rental, foreclosure prevention, financial literacy), counselor training and professional development, client materials development, and program evaluation. Both direct client services and training of other counselors are eligible.
What is the typical funding range and project period?
Grants typically range from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Project periods are usually 2-3 years, with competitive grants favoring multi-year commitments to build sustainable capacity.
What are the chances of being funded?
This is a competitive federal grant with multiple rounds of selections. Success depends on demonstrating strong organizational capacity, clear need in service area, innovative approaches, and documented track record with measurable outcomes. Estimated 20-30% acceptance rate for well-qualified applicants.
When is the deadline?
While the application open date is April 22, 2026, the specific deadline is not yet published. Applicants should monitor HUD.gov and SAM.gov for the official deadline announcement, typically 60-90 days after the NOFO opens.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Highlight your organization's HUD approval status or pathway to approval; this is a critical credibility factor for HUD reviewers. Include documentation of past performance metrics and client satisfaction data.
- Develop a detailed implementation plan showing how your organization will reach and serve the target population, including outreach strategies for underserved groups (low-income, minorities, non-English speakers, persons with disabilities).
- Include a strong evaluation and outcomes measurement plan with specific, achievable targets for client retention, counseling completion rates, and post-counseling housing stability outcomes.
- Demonstrate financial sustainability and organizational stability with audited financials, letters of support from community partners, and clear organizational management structure.
- If pursuing training components, detail curriculum development, trainer qualifications, certification pathways, and how trained counselors will be placed or supported in the field.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by lacking evidence of genuine counseling expertise or HUD approval/pathway. Organizations without documented track records of direct counseling service delivery struggle to compete. Another frequent weakness is vague outcomes measurements or unrealistic client volume projections that don't align with the organization's stated capacity.
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