Housing Counseling System (HCS)

The Housing Counseling System (HCS) is a real-time automated data management system for controlling HUD's entire housing counseling program. It is HUD's sole web-based application for entering, reporting, reviewing, and analyzing data on the program. The system maintains a list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and contains each agency's profile information. HCS is used daily by both HUD personnel and the non-profit housing counseling agencies.

HCS agency information is used to produce the state-by-state lists of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies on HUD's website. Agencies are required to verify their data at least once every 90 days. If no change is required, simply mark the "Validated?" box at the bottom of the agency profile page to indicate the information has been verified. To update agency information, make the necessary changes and click the "OK" button on the bottom of the screen.

HUD has enhanced HCS to automatically collect data directly from agencies. Agencies are required to use an automated Client Management System interface with HUD's Client Activity Reporting System (CARS) to transmit all required information.