Housing Counseling for Homeowners and Renters in Crisis: Lessons from the Housing Stability Counseling Program

The COVID-19 pandemic placed millions of renters and homeowners at risk of losing their homes. In response, Congress allocated $100 million to NeighborWorks America through the American Rescue Plan Act to create the Housing Stability Counseling Program. This initiative strengthened the nation’s housing counseling capacity and helped individuals navigate critical support systems during an unprecedented crisis.

Through the program, NeighborWorks America provided $88.6 million in grant funding to housing counseling intermediaries, state housing finance agencies, and NeighborWorks network organizations. Designed for rapid service delivery, Housing Stability Counseling offered free support to renters and homeowners facing instability caused by the pandemic. For the first time, federally funded counseling efforts focused not only on owners but also on renters, who were particularly vulnerable.

A new report commissioned by NeighborWorks America examines the design and implementation of the Housing Stability Counseling Program, documenting lessons and best practices for future crisis response. By analyzing client outcomes and counselor experiences, the research highlights how a strong housing counseling infrastructure can complement broader interventions and better serve communities during times of crisis.