OPINION: Cutting housing counseling is a grave mistake

For generations, owning a home has been one of the most effective ways for American families to build wealth, stability and long-term opportunity. But for far too many families, especially those who are Black and Latine, this opportunity remains out of reach.

Sustainable homeownership means giving people the tools and support they need to make informed decisions for long-term success.

That’s what housing counseling does. Usually working at nonprofit organizations, trained counselors certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) help individuals and families navigate every stage of the housing journey, from renting to buying to holding on to their homes during hard times.The advice of these counselors is unbiased, typically free and grounded in the best interests of families and communities. They help clients build budgets, improve credit, understand down-payment assistance programs and avoid scams...

...If the administration truly believes in making homeownership more accessible, it must back that belief with action. That means fully funding HUD’s Housing Counseling Program, not abandoning it. Sustainable homeownership doesn’t just change one family’s future. It stabilizes neighborhoods, grows local economies and builds intergenerational opportunity. What we need is the political will and investment to keep housing counseling robust.

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Ken Notes: An OPINION worth reading. We have spent a lot on programs and developments in the past that had little or no impact on the actual housing market or affordable housing stock, but that suggest we need to refocus our efforts based on outcomes not eliminate them.