This article is written by a housing counselor describing what a HOPE hot line counseling session is like.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has the authority to provide housing counseling services directly or through private or public organizations with special competence and knowledge in counseling low- and moderate-income families.

HUD approval demonstrates that the agency meets certain industry standards and federal guidelines, which has increasingly become the benchmark for participation in various other public / private housing programs. Additionally, HUD makes funding available for select HUD-approved agencies. Approximately one-third of HUD-approved agencies nationwide receive grants.

These are a set of guidelines for quality homeownership education and counseling services.
These guidelines are more extensive than those required by HUD to become a HUD-certified counseling agency. The NIS were developed by a broad coalition of stakeholders to assist consumers in determining where they should turn for quality, credible information services. These guidelines help establish a unified approach for the industry, ensuring that counselors and educators have the correct tools and information and encouraging counselors and educators to serve consumers with competence, fairness, and respect.