On Sept. 26, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $48 million will go toward increasing access to housing counseling services and strengthening the nation’s housing counseling workforce.

Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman made the announcement during remarks at the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials’ National Conference.

The money will advance HUD’s efforts to help families secure affordable homes at more than 160 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, state housing finance agencies, educational institutions, and national, regional, multi-state, and non-profit organizations.

“Buying a home and keeping a home can be an overwhelming experience, particularly for first-time homebuyers,” Todman said in a release. “HUD-certified housing counselors are available to help every step of the way. They provide vital information about available resources, such as downpayment assistance. We value the work housing counselors do to provide expert advice and will continue to fight for funding to support their efforts.”

The awards announced will support organizations that provide housing counseling services, train housing counseling professionals, and deliver educational resources to consumers about pre-purchase homebuying, financial literacy, foreclosure and rental eviction prevention, reverse mortgage counseling, disaster recovery, appraisal bias, and heirs’ property management.

The award recipients include 14 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies partnering with Historically Black colleges and universities to provide educational resources to homeowners, homebuyers, and renters to help bridge the racial homeownership gap.

“For so many individuals and families, finding a safe and affordable housing options may seem out of reach,” Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon said. “Unbiased housing counseling helps to turn the aspiration of obtaining safe and affordable place to call home into reality.”