Home Ownership Counseling

The Housing Authority of the City of Paterson has been a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency since June 2000, and a HUD approved Section 8 Home ownership Program since April 2001.  It is the goal of the Authority’s Housing Counseling Program to expand home ownership opportunities and improve access to affordable housing.

Pre-Purchase Counseling

The Housing Authority’s Home-buyer Education Classes are offered approximately ten months per year.  Classes are divided into three two (2) hour group sessions followed by a minimum of four (4) hour individual counseling sessions (10 hours total).  HACP’s housing counseling program requires that all clients who participate in the home-buyer education classes attend the group sessions following up with one-on-one pre-purchase counseling to complete the home-buyer course and receive a certificate of completion.  This certification allows the individual to apply for the City of Paterson First Time Home-buyer Grant.

Participants

Participation in Home-buyers Class is open to residents throughout the state and requires pre-registration as the class size is limited to 20 individuals.  There is often a waiting list to attend the classes.  However, attendance is often sporadic.

Participants frequently register for the housing counseling class and either don’t show up or drop out after one session.  This in turn denies or delays other participants from enrolling in the counseling class.  With increased housing development in the City of Paterson the Housing Counseling wait list is becoming more pronounced.

In order to avoid random cancellations or no show attendance, the PHA will initiate a registration fee of twenty -five $25 per household.  Participants will be asked to pre-register and submit their registration fee in the form of a money order along with their registration application, at least one month prior to counseling.  Submission of a money order and registration form will retain their place in a class and/or on the wait list.
For assistance with Home Buyer Education Classes and/or One on One Counseling, please contact (973) 345-5085.