Housing Counseling Intake Form

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the County of Cumberland (CCHRA) offers free housing counseling services in areas such as credit and budgeting, pre-purchase, non-delinquency post-purchase, and default/delinquency. The agency also offers Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education workshops which include information regarding Anti-Predatory Lending/Foreclosure Prevention, and Fair Housing/Fair Lending topics.

Credit and Budgeting: Clients receive help in understanding and improving their financial health. Counselors assist clients in understanding how to manage and develop good credit, analyze credit reports, improve credit scores, and help develop strategies to reduce debt. The counselor will also assist clients in creating a realistic spending plan, identifying areas of excess spending, developing ways to increase savings, and setting SMART financial goals.

Pre-Purchase: Clients receive one-on-one counseling which covers the entire homebuying process. Counselors will work with clients to evaluate their readiness to buy, improve credit, develop a budget, explore mortgage options, identify down payment assistance programs, and review important considerations such as hiring a licensed and reputable professional to perform a home inspection prior to closing. Clients will receive the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions and achieve sustainable homeownership.

Post-Purchase: Clients will receive support in maintaining successful, long-term homeownership. Counselors offer guidance on topics such as home maintenance, budgeting for home expenses, property taxes and insurance, reviewing loan or refinance options for home improvement projects, avoiding predatory lending, and planning for future financial needs.

Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education Workshop: Attendees will receive information on topics such as homebuyer readiness, the homebuying process, credit and budgeting, mortgage options, working with real estate professionals, maintaining a home, managing home expenses, understanding fair housing laws, avoiding predatory loans, and foreclosure. Participants gain the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed decisions and navigate the path to successful homeownership.

Our agency has a financial relationship with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), through whom we receive funding for Housing Counseling services. CCHRA also adheres to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules and regulations regarding housing counseling services. These organizations provide CCHRA with program oversight and guidance. In addition, we partner with many local organizations including realtors, lenders, and community service providers who provide educational information on standard industry practices at our workshops and may offer refreshments and information regarding their services to participants and attendees.

In addition to providing HUD-Certified Housing Counseling services, CCHRA also manages other Housing and Redevelopment programs, providing services which include Public Family Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, Rapid Rehousing Rental Assistance, and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for Cumberland County. CCHRA also owns and manages multiple rental properties and offers grant assistance programs such as our Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program. These programs utilize funding from HUD, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), along with other federal, state and local funds.

There is no obligation to receive, purchase, or use any product or service offered by this agency or any services of its industry partners or other party in exchange for your receiving HUD housing counseling services.

As a condition of our services, and in alignment with meeting our counseling goals, and in compliance with HUD’s Housing Counseling Program requirements, we may provide information on alternative services, programs, and products available to you, if applicable and known by our staff.

CCHRA and its housing counselors provide impartial, unbiased housing counseling services and do not steer clients to any specific lender, realtor, or service provider. CCHRA does not receive compensation, referral fees, or other benefits for recommending or selecting particular providers, and counselors are prohibited from offering services or participating in activities that could result in personal or financial benefit to themselves or their immediate family. While CCHRA may maintain partnerships or funding relationships with various community organizations, these affiliations do not influence the guidance provided to clients. Clients are encouraged to select the lender, realtor, or other service providers of their choice.

Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (CCHRA) is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency committed to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and security of your personal information. We collect only what is necessary to provide housing counseling and education services, meet PHFA, HUD, and funder requirements, and support your housing goals. This policy explains how your information is collected, used, shared, and safeguarded in compliance with HUD and federal privacy laws.

Information We Collect & How It’s Used

CCHRA collects information you provide through intake forms, counseling sessions, or documents such as credit reports, pay stubs, or tax returns. This may include your name, contact details, date of birth, demographic data (for HUD/PHFA reporting), Social Security number (or last four digits), income, employment, household information, mortgage or rental data, and notes from counseling sessions.

Your information is used to:

• Provide housing counseling, education, and financial capability services
  
• Create an individualized action plan
  
• Meet PHFA, HUD, and funder reporting requirements
  
• Evaluate program outcomes and effectiveness
  
• Obtain credit reports (with your consent)
  
• Coordinate services or referrals with partners (with your consent)
  

Information Sharing & Disclosure

CCHRA does not sell or rent your personal information. We may share information only as required or permitted by law with:

• PHFA, HUD, and HUD-approved intermediaries for reporting, monitoring, and compliance
  
• Funders or partners under grant agreements
  
• Credit bureaus (with written consent)
  
• Service providers or lenders you authorize
  
• Law enforcement or government agencies when legally required
  

As a HUD-approved agency, CCHRA must collect personal information for program delivery and reporting. HUD and its agents may access this data for compliance and evaluation and must protect it under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a).

Record Retention, Security & Communication

Client records are retained for at least three (3) years after case closure or longer if required by funders, then securely destroyed. We safeguard your information through locked storage, password-protected databases, staff access limits, and secure file disposal.

We may contact you by phone, mail, email, or secure electronic means. Since regular email may not be encrypted, avoid sending sensitive data unless through a secure system provided by CCHRA. Policy updates will be posted online or available upon request.

Client Rights

You have the right to:

• Review your file upon written request
  
• Request corrections to inaccurate information
  
• Withdraw consent for data sharing (except where required by law)
  
• Your information will not be shared for marketing or solicitation purposes.
  

Client Consent & Acknowledgment

We will obtain your written authorization before sharing information with third parties for purposes not required by law or HUD/PHFA program regulations. You may withdraw consent by written request.

By signing this form, you verify and agree to the following:

• I have received and reviewed CCHRA’s Housing Counseling Privacy Policy.
  
• I understand how my personal information may be collected, used, and shared.
  
• I understand my information may be shared with PHFA, HUD, HUD-approved intermediaries, or funders for compliance and evaluation.
  
• I consent to the collection and use of my personal information as described.
  

I authorize Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (CCHRA) to obtain a consumer credit report on me. CCHRA will use the consumer credit report to provide me with financial coaching to assist in providing me with services. Upon my request, CCHRA will provide me with the name and address of the Consumer Reporting Agency contacted to supply the report.

I understand that CCHRA uses a credit pulling system that results in a “soft” inquiry, which does not result in a “hard” inquiry on my credit report. I understand that when reviewing my credit report information, CCHRA will not negatively impact my score by triggering a reportable inquiry. I further understand and authorize CCHRA to review my credit file up to six months after discontinuation of services or goal achievement for the purpose of tracking outcomes and data for program reporting and evaluation.

I authorize CCHRA to:

• Pull my credit report to review my credit file to provide education and information to improve my credit.
  
• Pull my credit report to review my credit file for housing counseling services in connection with my pursuit of a loan to purchase real property.
  
• Pull my credit report to review my credit file for post-purchase services in connection with services and programs.
  

Thank you for selecting CCHRA to support you throughout your home ownership journey. Our mission is to expand homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income residents throughout the county through homebuyer education and counseling.

Please read the following client/counselor agreement carefully to understand how CCHRA will provide services, and what is expected.

Services
CCHRA and its counselor agrees to provide the following services:

• Development of a household budget.
  
• Analysis of credit report.
  
• Presentation and explanation of reasonable options.
  
• Use SMART goal setting techniques.
  
• Provide education, resources, and tools to assist you in reaching your goals.
  
• Services will be customized according to your specific situation and goals.
  
• Services can include but are not limited to household expense reductions, savings planning, debt reduction, credit improvement, financial product and services education, assessment of family housing needs, determining eligibility for first-time homebuyer programs, affordability analysis, the role of credit in homebuying process, assistance in getting pre-qualified for a mortgage loan, information on routine home maintenance, energy efficiency, hiring/firing a contractor, housing code enforcement procedures, refinancing, home equity, rights and responsibilities of homeowners.
  
• Develop an Action Plan after each session documenting what was done, next steps, and additional documents needed.

Time Commitment & Counseling Overview
Sessions are scheduled for one hour. In person sessions are recommended for the first appointment. Remote sessions may be offered if client is able to communicate through this format, and if authorized by PHFA/CCHRA. Credit reports are pulled at the time of the initial session, and subsequent sessions, as needed, and a copy is provided to the client.

Communication
At least once a month, the counselor and client will communicate to discuss progress on goals.

Termination/Reinstatement of Services
Services can be discontinued at any time by the client or counselor. Termination of services by the counselor will occur if there has been no contact with the client for a period of 90 days. Counselors can terminate services if client is not participating in the process or is hindering the process. Client can terminate services at any time either verbally or in writing. Services can be reinstated at any time. Any client whose case has been closed out for any reason will need to schedule a new client intake appointment.

Cancellation
Clients and counselors can cancel appointments at any time due to weather, conflicts, or other life events. Client and counselor will communicate cancellations 24 hours in advance unless otherwise unable or conflict/event is sudden.

Agreement
I agree to the following terms of service:

• I will always provide honest and complete information to my/our counselor, whether verbally or written.
  
• I will provide all necessary documentation and follow-up information within the time frame requested.
  
• I will be on time for appointments and understand that if I am late for an appointment, the appointment will still end at the scheduled time.
  
• I will call or email in advance of our appointment if I will be unable to attend.
  
• I will contact the counselor about changes in my situation, and maintain communication.
  
• I understand that breaking this agreement may cause CCHRA to terminate its counseling services and assistance to me.
  
• I will adhere, to the best of my ability, to the client/counselor agreement.