About Us and Program Purpose
United Housing (UHI) is a nonprofit, HUD-approved comprehensive housing counseling agency. We provide free education workshops and housing counseling, including pre-purchase and foreclosure prevention. 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, ei seq.). As a housing counseling program participant, please affirm your roles and responsibilities along with the following disclosures and sign, and date the form.
Client and Counselor Roles and Responsibilities
Counselor:
Review your housing goals and your finances, which include your income, debts, assets, and credit history.
Prepare a Client Action Plan that lists the steps you and your counselor will take to achieve your housing goal.
Prepare 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 UHI employees, agents, or directors may provide legal advice.
Client:
Completing the steps assigned to you in your Client Action Plan
Providing accurate and complete information about your income, debts, expenses, credit, and employment.
Attend meetings, return phone calls, provide requested paperwork in a timely manner.
Notify UHI or your counselor when changing housing goal.
Retain an attorney if seeking legal advice and/or representation in matters such as foreclosure or bankruptcy protection.
Termination of Services:
Failure to cooperatively work with your housing counselor or UHI will result in the discontinuation of counseling services. This includes but it not limited to, missing three consecutive appointments.
Agency Conduct: No United Housing 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: United Housing has financial affiliation with professional affiliations, HUD, NeighborWorks America, City of Memphis, the state of TN, Shelby County, and banks including but not limited to, Wells Fargo, Paragon Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Patriot Bank, First Horizon Bank, Truist Bank, Landmark Bank, and Independent Bank. As a housing counseling program participant, you are not obligated to use the products and services of United Housing or our industry partners.
Alternative Services, Programs, and Products & Client Freedom of Choice: United Housing has a first time homebuyer program, however, you are not obligated to participate in this or other UHI 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 Authority (FHA) for first time homebuyer loan programs, Memphis Area Association of Governments, Frayser CDC, and Binghampton CDC 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 includes the City and County services available to meet a variety of needs, including emergency shelter, food bank, and legal aid assistance.
Errors and Omissions and Disclaimer of Liability: I/we agree UHI, 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 UHI counseling; and I hereby release and waive all claims of action against UHI and its affiliates. I have read this document and 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, UHI, 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 UHI grantors such as HUD or NeighborWorks America.
The client(s), having read the above disclosures and acknowledging receipt of these documents and by signing below agree to the terms of the program. A photocopy of my/our signature(s) may be deemed to be the same as my/our original signature(s) and may be used in place of my/our original signature(s).