Consent* I/we acknowledge that I/we received, reviewed, and agree to Veterans Center HCA’s Program Disclosures.
As a HUD-certified Housing Counseling Agency, the Veterans Center (“VCATL”) is nonprofit, HUD-approved comprehensive housing counseling agency. We provide free education workshops and a full spectrum of housing counseling including pre-purchase, foreclosure prevention, non-delinquency post-purchase, reverse mortgage, rental and homeless counseling. We serve all clients regardless of income, race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, age, family status, disability, or sexual orientation/gender identity. We administer our programs in conformity with local, state, and federal anti-discrimination laws, including the federal Fair Housing Act (42 USC 3600, et seq.). As a housing counseling program participant, please affirm your roles and responsibilities along with the following disclosures and initial, sign, and date the form on the
following page.
Counselor’s Roles and Responsibilities
Reviewing your housing goal and your finances; which include your income, debts, assets, and credit history.
• Preparing a Client Action Plan that lists the steps that you and your counselor will take in order to achieve
your housing goal.
• Preparing a household budget that will help you manage your debt, expenses, and savings.
• Your counselor is not responsible for achieving your housing goal, but will provide guidance and education in
support of your goal.
• Neither your counselor nor Veterans Center HCA employees, agents, or directors may provide legal advice.
Client’s Role and Responsibilities
Termination of Services: Failure to work cooperatively with your housing counselor and/or Veterans Center HCA with result in the discontinuation of counseling services. This includes, but is not limited to, missing three consecutive appointments.
Termination of Services: Failure to work cooperatively with your housing counselor and/or Veterans Center HCA with result in the discontinuation of counseling services. This includes, but is not limited to, missing three consecutive appointments.
Agency Conduct: No Veterans Center HCA employee, officer, director, contractor, volunteer, or agent shall undertake any action that might result in, or create the appearance of, administering
counseling operations for personal or private gain, provide preferential treatment for any person
or organization, or engage in conduct that will compromise our agency’s compliance with federal regulations and our commitment to serving the best interests of our clients.
Agency Relationships: Veterans Center HCA has financial affiliation with HUD, NeighborWorks America, USDA Rural Development, the Georgia. As a housing counseling program participant, you are not obligated to use the products and services of Veterans Center HCA or our industry
partners.
Alternative Services, Programs, and Products & Client Freedom of Choice: Veterans Center HCA has a first-time homebuyer program developed in partnership with Woodforest Bank.
However, you are not obligated to participate in this or other Veterans Center HCA programs and services while you are receiving housing counseling from our agency. You may consider seeking alternative products and services from entities including the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for first-time homebuyer loan programs, and [insert name of two additional HCA or community service organizations here] for other first-time homebuyer programs. You are entitled to choose whatever real estate professionals, lenders, and lending products that best meet your
needs.
Referrals and Community Resources: You will be provided a community resource list which outlines the county and regional services available to meet a variety of needs, including utilities assistance, emergency shelter, transitional housing, food banks, and legal aid assistance.
This list also identifies alternative agencies that provide services, programs, or products identical to those offered by Veterans Center HCA and its exclusive partners and affiliates.
Privacy Policy: I/we acknowledge that I/we received a copy of Veterans Center HCA’s Privacy
Policy.
Errors and Omissions and Disclaimer of Liability: I/we agree Veterans Center HCA, its employees, agents, and directors are not liable for any claims and causes of action arising from errors or omissions by such parties, or related to my participation in Veterans Center HCA counseling; and I hereby release and waive all claims of action against Veterans Center HCA and its affiliates. I have read this document, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. If any provision of this document is unenforceable, it shall be modified to the extent necessary to make the provision valid and binding, and the remainder of this document shall remain enforceable to the full extent allowed by law.
Quality Assurance: In order to assess client satisfaction and in compliance with grant funding
requirements, Veterans Center HCA, or one of its partners, may contact you during or after the completion of your housing counseling service. You may be requested to complete a survey asking you to evaluate your client experience. Your survey data may be confidentially shared with Veterans Center HCA grantors such as HUD.