Housing Counseling System (HCS)

Housing Counseling System (HCS) is a real-time automated data web system to manage HUD's housing counseling program by maintaining a current list of housing counseling agencies, collecting client data, and providing performance reports. HCS is used everyday throughout the year by both HUD personnel and the non-profit housing counseling agencies. Agencies are responsible for their data in HCS and are required to validate their information at least once every 90 days.

Agency information from HCS is used to produce the state-by-state lists of HUD-Approved housing counseling agencies on HUD's web site. and on the toll-free phone system. If the information on the web list or toll-free phone system is not correct, make corrections in HCS and the updated information will be posted the next day.

HCS is currently under-going an enhancement to collect agency data automatically directly from the agencies without having the data manually inputted in HCS as they do now. Agencies will be required in FY08 to utilize a Client Management System (CMS) of their choice to automate their counseling services, store their client data, and interface correctly with CARS/HCS to automatically submit required information to HUD.