A Federal Register Notice, published on April 09, 2018, announces vacancies on the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC). HUD is seeking nominations to fill eight (8) vacancies. Of the 8 new members, two each must represent one of the following 4 categories:   mortgage industry, real estate industry, consumers, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies Individuals may nominate themselves. Please carefully read the Federal Register Notice.

• Action: Notice of solicitation of appointment nominations for the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee.
• Citation: 83 FR 15168
• Page: 15168-15170 (3 pages)
• Docket No. Docket No. FR-5858-N-09
• Document Number: 2018-07219
• Publication Date: 04/09/2018

Nominations to the HCFAC must be submitted via HUD Form 90005 which is available on the Office of Housing Counseling’s  Federal Advisory Committee Web page.  Each nominee will be required to provide all the information on HUD Form 90005, as well as the following information:

• Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a narrative description of how the applicant is representative of at least one of the following 4 categories: mortgage industry, real estate industry, consumers, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.
• Nominee’s mailing address, email address, and telephone number;
• A narrative statement summarizing the nominee’s qualifications, unique experiences, skills and knowledge the individual will bring to the HCFAC and reasons why the nominee should be appointed to the HCFAC;
• A statement agreeing to submit to any pre-appointment screenings HUD might require of Special Government Employees, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202;
• A statement confirming that the nominee is not a registered federal lobbyist;
• The Nominee’s signature and date.

Incomplete application may be rejected from further review. Applications are due no later than May 09, 2018 at 11:59:59 pm. Nominations must be submitted via email to HCFAC.application@hud.gov.  Individuals that do not have internet access may submit nominations Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling, HUD, 451 7^th Street SW, Room 9224, Washington DC 20410. (NOTE: this address replaces the one on the Application form) Please see the below “Information for the Public on the HCFAC and Application for Membership” for information on the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee.  More information can also be found on HUD Exchange.

Information for the Public on the HCFAC and Application for Membership:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has supported a network of independent housing counseling agencies since 1968.  The purpose of housing counseling is to assist homeowners and renters to improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership.  Recent research shows a compelling relationship between housing counseling and positive outcomes for families such as more savings, less debt, improved credit scores, and fewer mortgage defaults and foreclosures.

HUD’s Housing Counseling Program supports a wide variety of services to homebuyers, homeowners, renters and those at risk of homelessness.  The primary objective of the program is to educate families and individuals in order to help them make smart decisions to improve their housing situation.  Counselors help borrowers understand the terms of their lease or mortgage; create a family budget and savings plan; recognize fraud and scams; understand their rights under fair housing and fair lending laws; and obtain resources such as eviction prevention assistance or down payment assistance.

In 2010, recognizing the important role HUD’s housing counseling program could play for those affected by the Great Recession, Congress established the Office of Housing Counseling at HUD and mandated the Secretary to appoint an advisory committee to provide advice to the Deputy Assistant Secretary regarding the carrying out the functions of the Office of Housing Counseling.

The mission of the Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) is to provide individuals and families with the knowledge they need to obtain, sustain, and improve their housing. Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) accomplishes this mission by supporting a strong network of approximately 1,850 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and counselors.  Last year, HUD housing counselors assisted over 1million families to overcome barriers and achieve their housing goals.  The Office of Housing Counseling   benefits from the experience and perspective of housing industry experts, housing counseling agencies and consumers. The Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) provides a forum for those involved in housing counseling to offer advice directly to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Housing Counseling on a regular basis.  The Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC), however, will have no role in reviewing or awarding of housing counseling grants and procurement.  To ensure input from stakeholders and other entities The Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) will not be the sole source of advice to the Office of Housing Counseling.

The Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) shall consist of no more than twelve (12) individuals. The membership will equally represent the mortgage and real estate industry, including consumers and housing counseling agencies approved by the Secretary. The members were first appointed to the Committee shall be designated by the Secretary to serve terms as follows: 4 appointed for a term of 1 year, 4 appointed for a term of 2 years and 4 be appointed for a term of three years.  Thereafter, each member of the Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.  Members may be reappointed at the discretion of the Secretary.

HUD is currently seeking nominations for the following positions:

• One individual representing the real estate industry, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/20.
• One individual representing the mortgage industry, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/20.
• One individual representing consumers, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/20.
• One individual representing HUD approved housing counseling agencies, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/20.
• One individual representing the real estate industry, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/21.
• One individual representing the mortgage industry, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/21.
• One individual representing consumers, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/21.
• One individual representing HUD approved housing counseling agencies, term begins upon appointment and ends on 5/31/21.

Nominations may be made by agency officials, members of Congress, the general public, professional organizations, and the nominee.

Selection of members is based on candidates’ qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of The Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC)’s objectives.  The Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) membership will be balanced to include a broad representation of geographic areas within the U.S., with equitable representation of gender, ethnic and racial minorities, and persons with disabilities. Nominees must be U.S. citizens, and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. No person who is a federally-registered lobbyist may serve on the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee.

The role of Federal advisory committees is limited by statute and regulation.  Within those limits, potential outcomes of the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee may result in:

• Identification of opportunities to expand visibility for and access to HUD housing counseling programs
• Development of innovative public and private housing counseling programs
• Identification of current and emerging needs for housing counseling
• Development of metrics to ensure that the HUD program results in quality housing counseling delivery and a healthy housing counseling industry

The estimated number of meetings anticipated within a fiscal year is two and at other intervals as needed to render advice to the Office of Housing Counseling.  The meetings will be held in person, voice, or electronically. The meetings are open to the public unless prior notice has been provided for a closed meeting.  Regular attendance is essential to the effective operation of the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC).

Members of the Committee shall serve without pay but shall receive travel expenses including per diem in lieu of subsistence as authorized by 5 U.S.C.§ 5703.

Members of the Committee shall be screened by HUD prior to appointment. The screening will be done to identify applicants most likely to meet the objectives of the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) and to assure the Department that no conflict of interest relationships exists.  Committee members may not have any outstanding unpaid government loans, sanctions, foreclosures, inappropriate transfers of real property, business relationships, etc. Any information related to the screening will be kept confidential. Selected members, as Special Government Employees, will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.

Applications are due no later than May 09, 2018 at 11:59:59 pm. Nominations must be submitted via email to HCFAC.application@hud.gov.  Individuals that do not have internet access may submit nominations Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling, HUD, 451 7^th Street SW, Room 9224, Washington DC 20410. (NOTE: this address replaces the one on the Application 90005 form)

For more information and the application form, visit HUD’s Website.