HUD - Sarah Gerecke Webinar 11.28.2012 11.28.12

HUD - Sarah Gerecke Webinar 11.28.2012 11.28.12

• 1.
  Presented by: SarahGerecke, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Housing Counseling
• 2.
   HUD Officeof Housing Counseling (OHC)  Our Goals  Impact of Housing Counseling  Authority  OHC: Who Are We?  OHC Offices  Program Oversight and Administration  FY2013 NOFA  Questions Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 2
• 3.
  OHC Goals • To help consumers assess their financial situation and achieve their housing goals. • To increase public awareness of HUD’s housing counseling programs. • To increase the knowledge and capacity of HUD’s housing counseling network. • To improve the impact of housing counseling on consumers and neighborhoods nationwide. Office of Housing Counseling Update 3 November 28, 2012 Slide 3
• 4.
  Trends in HousingCounseling Activity Office of Housing Counseling Update 4 November 28, 2012 Slide 4
• 5.
  Trends in HousingCounseling Funding • In February and March 2012, the National Housing Resource Center conducted an informal survey of housing counseling agencies to determine the extent of recent funding reductions and their impact on counseling services. • 85% of respondents had experienced reductions in funding compared to previous years. Only 3% reported increases in funding. Office of Housing Counseling Update 5 November 28, 2012 Slide 5
• 6.
  Impact on Agencies • Respondents were aware of 46 agencies that shut down due to cuts. Office of Housing Counseling Update 6 November 28, 2012 Slide 6
• 7.
  FY12 Housing CounselingActivity • Despite lower funding and staffing levels, the need for housing counseling services remains high. • HUD-approved HCAs have served more than 1.2 million households through the first three quarters of FY 12. • Nearly 80% of clients received one-on-one counseling services. Office of Housing Counseling Update 7 November 28, 2012 Slide 7
• 8.
   The OHCis an opportunity to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, scale and impact of housing counseling  The Dodd-Frank Act required HUD to establish a new Office of Housing Counseling (OHC)  The OHC came into being on October 1, 2012  Sarah Gerecke appointed Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Office of Housing Counseling Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 8
• 9.
   Dodd-Frank alsoprescribed changes for the Housing Counseling Program:  Create an Advisory Committee to provide strategic planning and policy guidance  Certify housing counselors through written examination  Examine standards for Program Approval, Materials, Training, Testing and Counselor Certifications  Streamlining the grant application process  Certify software systems for consumers to compare mortgage products to individual financial situations Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 9
• 10.
  Office of theDeputy Assistant Secretary Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Sarah Gerecke [email protected] Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary VACANT Office of Policy and Grant Administration Office of Outreach and Capacity Building Office of Oversight & Accountability Director Office Director Office Director Brian Siebenlist [email protected] VACANT Cheryl Appline [email protected] Deputy Director Deputy Director Deputy Director Kristin Johnsen [email protected] Jerrold Mayer [email protected] VACANT . Division Division Director Director Emelda Kennerly [email protected] Phyllis Ford [email protected] 67 staff in 30 locations Deputy Director Deputy Director Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee Carolyn Hogans [email protected] from Alaska to Florida [email protected] Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 10
• 11.
  Office of theDeputy Assistant Secretary for the OHC  The mission of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) is to provide leadership and vision to the OHC, to help consumers assess their financial situation and achieve their housing goals.  The DAS’s Office provides advice to leadership and management of the Department as it relates to legislation, regulation, policy development and grant administration, budget, training and technical assistance, program evaluation and oversight.  The DAS’s office sets the strategic direction for HUD’s OHC. Office of Policy and Grant Administration  The mission of the Office of Policy and Grant Administration is to create a stronger, more sustainable framework and infrastructure for HUD’s Housing Counseling Programs.  Responsible for: Housing Counseling Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) administration; developing regulations; measuring and reporting housing counseling impact, and addressing stakeholder concerns. Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 11
• 12.
  Office of Outreachand Capacity Building  Mission is to train and certify housing counselors and increase public awareness of HUD’s housing counseling programs.  Will work with housing counselors to help prepare them for HUD certification.  Will connect with counselors to listen to their concerns, answer questions, and discuss new HUD policies and initiatives.  Will assemble an Advisory Committee mandated by Dodd-Frank legislation.  Will provide technical assistance to HUD counseling agencies as needed and requested. Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 12
• 13.
  Office of Oversightand Accountability  Mission is to ensure quality and effective counseling services through monitoring and certification of HUD-approved agencies and counselors.  Will provide training in all aspects of housing counseling and analyze the compliance and effectiveness of HUD-approved agencies and counselors.  Will gather data and prepare reports on the activities and outcomes of housing counseling agencies.  Will administer contract and certification programs of the Office of Housing Counseling.  Will assist in developing policy and regulations for the OHC; and recommend/implement sanctions for noncompliance of such regulations. Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 13
• 14.
  • Distribute grantsquickly, while reducing unnecessary paperwork. • Strengthen relations and communication between HUD and housing counseling network, in order to achieve broader community impact. • Ensure quality counseling while streamlining review process. • Fix HUD program requirements and provide training on new program policy. • Conduct research analysis on the impact of housing counseling. • Report long term impact of housing counseling on consumers and neighborhoods. • Explore incorporating housing counseling into more public and private rental and mortgage programs. • Increase the financial viability of housing counseling. Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 14
• 15.
  • Newly AssignedPoints of Contact (POC) • Counselor Certification • Encourage HFAs, regional and local coalitions to consider options of bonding as Intermediary networks • Encourage LHCAs to seek funds through an Intermediary network • Increase remote monitoring • Approve agencies for up to a three year period based on several factors Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 15
• 16.
  • Please checkfor the announcement at: www.grants.gov QUESTIONS? Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 16
• 17.
  Office of HousingCounseling web page: www.hud.gov/housingcounseling Questions or comments - [email protected] Office of Housing Counseling Update November 28, 2012 Slide 17