National Mortgage Settlement Counseling Program
California’s Fiscal Year 2020-21 State Budget directed $300 million in National Mortgage Settlement (NMS) funds to the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) for housing counseling and mortgage assistance. Through its NMS Housing Counseling Program, CalHFA has allocated $91.5 million for HUD-certified housing counselors throughout the state to provide free, confidential counseling services to California residents who are in danger of eviction or foreclosure.
Program Details
Housing Counseling Agencies will receive $750 for a client’s first one-on-one personalized counseling session. An additional $750 will be allowed if the same client returns for a second one-on-one session or a more in-depth level of counseling is needed (i.e. loan modification assistance). The maximum per household limit is $1,500.
Intermediaries and Counseling Agencies also received a portion of their total grant allocation upfront to be used for oversight, program support and capacity building. The upfront investment into building capacity is designed to improve and extend the life of the counseling services by ensuring that agencies can modernize their technology to accommodate more virtual meetings, have adequate staffing with updated training to improve customer service and expand the availability of languages offered.
92,517
households served
55
active HCAs
$106.8M
funds distributed
425
active counselors
NOTE: Total funds distributed as of 03/31/2025. CalHFA is committed to transparency in reporting the allocation and use of NMS funds. This page will be updated quarterly with that information.
Find a housing counselor
Connect with an NMS program counselor
Connect with a HUD-certified housing counselor by phone: 1.800.569.4287
Quarterly Reports
Who We’re Helping
To help CalHFA ensure that assistance is equitable and effective, counseling agencies participating in the program are required to track demographic data, income levels, location and type of service needed for each client.
< 30% AMI
30-49% AMI
50-79% AMI
80-100% AMI
> 100% AMI
Chose not to respond
1-2 people per household
3-4 people per household
5-6 people per household
7+ people per household
Chose not to respond
< 30 Years
30-39 Years
40-49 Years
50-59 Years
60-69 Years
> 69 Years
Chose not to respond
Northern CA
Southern CA
Central Valley/Bay Area
Hispanic
Not Hispanic
Chose not to respond
White
Black/African American
Asian American/Pacific Islander
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Other/Multiple Race
Chose not to respond
Types of Counseling Services Provided
There are several different types of counseling services offered by the Counseling Agencies for the homeless, renters, and homeowners.
Sacramento Headquarters
500 Capitol Mall, Ste. 1400
Sacramento, CA 95814
877.9.CalHFA (877.922.5432)
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