The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appointed 11 members to its Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee. The committee serves a critical advisory role to HUD by shaping the direction of its Housing Counseling Program and providing guidance on how to better serve prospective buyers, homeowners and renters, the agency stated in a release.

The members represent professionals from the mortgage and real estate industry, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, and consumers. This announcement reinforces the Biden-Harris administration and HUD’s commitment to expanding access to affordable homes, particularly for disadvantaged communities and first-time homebuyers.

“We are pleased to announce our new Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee members, a diverse group of industry leaders dedicated to addressing the nation’s pressing housing challenges,” HUD Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon said. “Their expertise will help guide our collective efforts, ensuring housing counseling is available, accessible and tailored to meet as many people as possible.”

The following new committee members will serve three-year terms and begin their service in January 2025:

• Tamara Gifford – director, community and external relations, Onity Group.
• Leigh Lester – founder and executive director, Ubuntu Institute of Learning.
• Helene Raynaud – senior vice president of housing initiatives, Money Management International.
• Elizabeth Karwowski Sdoucos – CEO and chief customer officer, CredEvolv.
• Hanna Tester – homeownership director, Neighborworks Montana.
• Carol Ventura – CEO and executive director, Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp.
• David Young– director of capacity building, Housing Action Illinois

The following committee members have been re-appointed for addition three-year terms:

• Lawrence Batiste – branch manager and real estate broker, NID Atlanta Metro regional office.
• Carol Ann Dujanovich – senior vice president and director, Reverse Mortgage Division, University Bank.
• Angie Liou – executive director, Asian Community Development Corp.
• Paul Yorkis– president, Patriot Real Estate, Inc.

Sherri Eckles, who was appointed last year and is the senior vice president of the renovation and construction lending programs at Norcom Mortgage, will also continue to serve on the committee.

“We are excited to collaborate with the committee to drive our mission forward and provide consumers with vital resources to secure, uphold, and preserve their homes,” HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing Counseling David Berenbaum said. “We’d also like to express our appreciation to the departing members for sharing their expertise to foster the impact of housing counseling providers nationwide.”