Comment Submitted by Steven Marshall, PathStone Corporation

I don’t feel that housing counselors that do not make loans should have to be license. The cost related to taking the 20 hour classes, taking the test and renewal fee are too costly for non-profit agencies. We at Gulf Coast do not charge for service and did not get a grant from HUD this year. We have four housing counselors the agency is willing to pay for the training this year but what about the future. It would be unfair to have one counselor certified and the others not . Because that would also mean that that only one counselor could do foreclosure ,pre purchase or budgeting counseling. Most education is beneficial for the development of abating our clients situations. I don’t see the real benefit of having a loan license to do the work we do. We could take a class to be certified and that certification should be good for 3- 5 years. This could server to the client’s benefit and be cost effective. Thank you in advance for allowing me to sound off Steven Marshall, Housing Coordinator Gulf Coast Community Services Association 5000 Gulf Freeway, Building One Houston, Texas 77023 713-393-4712 (office) 713-393-4792 (fax) marshallsh@gccsa.org www.gccsa.org Gulf Coast Community Services Association exists to strengthen the educational, social, and economic well-being of individuals and families as they transition out of poverty toward independence and self-sufficiency. Thank you for supporting our efforts in building economic independence for all of Harris County!