Recognizing the need for housing counselors to have flexible and dynamic learning opportunities, Housing Action Illinois has collaborated with trainer Kim Drayton to introduce our first on-demand housing counselor training, Compliance Matters: The 2024 Definitive HUD Data Compliance Course for HUD-Certified Housing Counselors. This training allows participants to progress at their own pace and according to their own schedule, creating a personalized learning experience.
The in-depth, interactive training is designed to be completed in about 15 hours. The material is divided into modules, each with its series of short videos and learning checks, making it a more engaging experience than watching a pre-recorded training session. Interested professionals can watch a demo video to understand the online platform and what the course will entail.
The training explores a foundational topic that every housing counselor needs to understand: daily HUD compliance. HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling just published an update to its Housing Counseling Program Handbook 7610.1 Rev-6.1, which all HUD-approved agencies must comply with as of April 1, 2024. This comprehensive course provides essential guidance on navigating the updated HUD data compliance requirements, equipping counselors to deliver high-quality client services.
A distinguishing feature that differentiates this learning opportunity from pre-recorded trainings is the live Q&A offered by trainer Kim Drayton of ThriveInspire. Kim is available to address participant questions and guide the course weekly. These sessions, conducted in an online community, provide real-time answers to participant questions to help equip counselors to meet their organization’s specific needs.
Course highlights include:
- Immediately applicable insights and strategies related to the daily responsibilities of a HUD-certified housing counselor.
- Practical techniques that help participants navigate requirements more confidently.
- The latest information is in the newly released HUD Handbook 7610.1 Revision 6.
- The opportunity to connect with peers in the exclusive online community for Compliance Matters students.
Trainer Kim Drayton of ThriveInspire developed the course. Kim has consulted with nonprofit clients such as NeighborWorks™ America and The Housing Partnership Network. She has trained over 8,000 homeownership professionals since 2009, and In 2018, she began educating agencies and counselors on HUD-approved CMSs. After observing a need for assistance to help housing counseling professionals better understand how HUD compliance relates to their day-to-day job functions, she developed the Compliance Matters course.