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The Basics

CSG Engage is offered by Community Software Group and is designed for non-profit organizations with multiple program areas. The system is a full case management tool and the housing counseling features are built to meet the fundamental needs of counseling programs. In addition to housing counseling tools, Engage has built in CSBG features and an add on for HMIS.

Costs

One-Time Costs: Data migration is billed at $150/hour. The time needed varies depending on the amount of data and the format in which it is provided.

Annual Fee: $490-675/year per user based on the number of users. This price is impacted by optional add-on features. The add-ons include the HUD CMS and HUD HMIS modules.

Contact CSG at Laura.Mason@CommunitySoftwareGroup.com for a demo of the product and pricing based upon your agency’s needs.

Training & Technical Support

Technical support staff are available during business hours for all time zones. In addition to the technical support features below, CSG Engage provides training and technical assistance meetings to users.

Live Help Desk Support
Support Ticket System
Webinars
Forums

Platform & Setup

Engage is a web-based system that is customized based upon your needs and can be configured to match the structure of your organization; it can be built around program types, departments, and teams. Setup is conducted remotely and can take between two and four weeks. On-site setup is available if your agency covers travel costs.

Counseling & Group Education Features

Track hours spent counseling
Capture all fields required by HUD
Distinguish between potential/prospective clients and actual clients
Track case funding
Track various fees charged by agency
Link to credit reporting agencies
Soft credit pull
Track changes in credit score
Document storage for client files
Track changes in budgeting habits
Follow up reminders
Automated reminders of upcoming appointment/workshops
Client/Case summary form
Populate debts off the credit report
Track real estate owned, either primary residence or rental property
Track First-Generation Homebuyer
Email/text communications with clients and/or lenders/creditors

One-on-One Tools

Loan comparison
Financial calculators
Budgeting tools
Credit improvement tools

Group Education Features

Track all fields required by HUD
Registration/rosters
Course logistics (including instructors and locations)
Track funding
Track fees charged by agency
Mail merge to create Certificates of Completion

Output Documents

RMA
UBA
Budget
Hardship letter
Action plan
Signed intake
Signed disclosures/authorizations

Program/Tool Interactions

eHome America
Framework
Other homebuyer education platform/materials
Any other education/webinar platform
Hope LoanPortal
HomeCoach or AUS
Lender communications
Online consumer authorization
Any consumer permissioned data functionality or other API

Administration Management Features

Separate staff can be assigned to same client
Staff training records tracking
Staff certifications tracking
HUD individual certification tracking
FHA Connection
Counselor (user) time sheets can be created (including tie client/time to grants)
Internal calendar/appointment functionality
External calendar/appointment functionality
Admins able to add or remove staff/counselors

Workflow Features

Dashboards
Ability to sort and filter cases
Ability to export records
Ability to export records to Hope LoanPortal
Ability to import client cases

Client Interface

In addition to client intake, CSG Engage’s client interface can be used for application completion and allows clients to upload documents.

Portal for Client to input data
Client can register for group education or one-on-one appointments
Can send client satisfaction surveys
Can email clients or lenders and other stakeholders
Can chat with counselor/staff in real time

Reports and Customization

CSG Engage’s other prepackaged reports include Counselor Time Spent Report, HUD HMIS CoC APR, HUD HMIS ESG CAPER, HUD HMIS Data, Households without Services, Clients Missing Required Data, Duplicate Clients, Inactive Clients, Service Counts, Question and Responses Reports (Survey results), CSBG Household Characteristics Report, CSBG Annual Report Standard Services Report, Address Labels, Program Overlap Data Visualizations, City/Town Report, and numerous Fiscal & Funding Source Reports.

HUD-9902
Other pre-packaged reports
Customizable reports
Client satisfaction survey results

9902 Reporting

Error messages identify specific error and location
Edits can be made from 9902 preview
Submitted as single or multiple packages MULTIPLE

Customizable Fields

Counseling outcomes
Counseling type
Counseling status
Referral source
Funding organization/source