A new tool is available for Hoosiers seeking housing resources. Prosperity Indiana has released a new statewide map of available housing counseling resources. Households in need of information and guidance on how to rent or own a home can find U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) housing counseling services near them.
HUD Housing Counseling Agencies (HCAs) provide information, advice, and guidance for people who are seeking to finance, maintain, rent, or own a home. Housing counselors also assist those facing homelessness and homeowners in need of foreclosure assistance. HCAs and housing counselors can assist with educating clients on best rental practices, how to maintain a safe and healthy home, and how to prepare for future homeownership. HUD explains that HCAs and housing counselors play a critical role in serving cost-burdened renter households or households that may be facing an eviction by, “helping clients identify an affordable unit, providing information to renters on tenant rights and fair housing issues, counseling on household budgeting,” and more.
“The core mission of the map is to contribute information about HCAs in Indiana and the unique and critical housing counseling services they provide to households across the state. With this resource, we hope to increase awareness of HUD-HCAs in Indiana and to provide an interactive tool for residents to explore and access information about HUD housing counseling services near them”, said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. You can access the map by clicking here or on Housing4Hoosiers. To learn more about an agency or organization, please click on a pinned point on the map, and expand the pop-up feature to access the following information: address, services and/or coverage area(s) (i.e. what county/counties or city/cities the agency or organization serves), website, and phone number.
Credits: (1) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development & Research, Single Family Housing Counseling Agencies, HUD open data ArcGIS dataset & (2) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling, HUD Housing Counseling locations map.
View the map at housing4hoosiers.org/housing-counseling-services-map/