Sponsors (7)
The bill expands free, independent foreclosure‑prevention and VA loan counseling for veterans and other borrowers to improve access and protect consumers, but it requires public funding and restrictive provider rules that may limit capacity and availability in some areas.
Veterans and other eligible borrowers gain access to free, voluntary VA home loan and loss‑mitigation/foreclosure‑prevention counseling, making it easier to obtain VA benefits and avoid foreclosure.
Counseling must be independent and neutral and the program bans referral fees, reducing conflicts of interest and protecting borrowers from biased or self‑serving recommendations.
Certification and ongoing training requirements (with HUD consultation) should improve counselor quality and consistency for multi‑state or national coverage.
Creating and operating the program will require taxpayer funds and VA resources and may need new appropriations or reallocation of budgets.
Limiting designation to HUD‑approved nonprofits with a veteran focus could reduce provider availability in some areas (particularly rural communities), delaying or limiting access to services.
If the VA underfunds contracts or oversight, volunteer/no‑cost services may be overwhelmed, causing gaps in quality or timeliness of help when demand is high.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to create a free borrower support services program and to designate/certify independent nonprofit housing counselors to help veterans navigate VA home loan benefits.
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 voluntary, free borrower support services program at the Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans and other eligible borrowers navigate VA home loan benefits. The program will provide education, eligibility and certificate assistance, counseling on loan origination/refinancing/closing, appraisal and documentation guidance, loss mitigation and foreclosure-prevention counseling, and coordination with mortgage servicers and VA. Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate and contract with qualified nonprofit housing counseling agencies (prioritizing those that serve veterans) and to set certification and recertification requirements for entities and individual counselors providing services under VA loan programs.