Sponsors (17)
The bill expands free, independent VA home‑loan counseling to help veterans obtain benefits and avoid foreclosure, but it requires taxpayer funding and imposes provider restrictions and compliance costs that could limit capacity or delay services in some areas.
Veterans and other eligible borrowers receive free, voluntary counseling to navigate VA home loan benefits and access loss‑mitigation and foreclosure‑prevention options, making it easier to obtain benefits and stay in their homes.
Veterans and homeowners get independent, neutral counselors with a ban on referral fees, reducing conflicts of interest and lowering the risk of biased or predatory recommendations.
Veterans and military borrowers benefit from certification and ongoing training requirements (with HUD consultation) for counselors, which should improve service quality and consistency across states.
Taxpayers and the VA may bear new costs because creating and running the program requires funding, potentially needing appropriations or reallocation of VA resources.
Veterans in rural or underserved areas may face reduced access because designation is limited to HUD‑approved nonprofits with a veteran focus, which could leave gaps in provider availability.
Veterans and homeowners could experience delays or lower-quality service if demand outstrips supply and the VA underfunds contracts or oversight for volunteer/no‑cost services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a VA borrower support services program providing free, voluntary education and certified neutral counseling to help veterans navigate VA home loans and related servicing issues.
Official title: To amend chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide support services to veterans in navigating housing loan benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 23, 2026 by Veronica Escobar · Last progress June 23, 2026
Creates a VA borrower support services program to help veterans and other eligible borrowers navigate VA home loan benefits. The program will provide free, voluntary education and one-on-one counseling on eligibility, certification, origination, refinancing, closing, appraisals, documentation, loan servicing, loss mitigation, and foreclosure prevention, and may coordinate with mortgage servicers and VA. Allows the VA Secretary to designate and contract with independent nonprofit housing counseling entities and certified counselors (prioritizing those serving military-connected households), sets certification and recertification requirements (at least every three years), and requires designated entities to act as neutral intermediaries rather than agents for lenders or real estate professionals.