Housing Counseling Services — Counselor in Washington, DC

I can only imagine being in need and having to rely on this agency! I dealt with them regarding a tenant receiving assistance and it was so exhausting!

The entire staff exhibits a lack of professionalism and rudeness towards clients. They prolong the application process by setting unrealistic deadlines and imposing excessive financial demands. The majority of the office staff is Hispanic, and they exclusively cater to individuals of Hispanic descent. They deliberately make it extremely challenging for African Americans to receive assistance. This program necessitates an investigation to secure funding, similar to the one conducted for Casa Ruby, which encompassed Ethics and Inclusion training. My experience with Miles and Mirel was profoundly negative. I strongly advise against requesting assistance from this program and recommend filing a grievance to address their allocation and spending practices.

Usually I try my best to not expose the type of work I do . This agency is full of it . Literally if you try to get services they will ask you for personal information that should never be released to any agency , but as a secret informant who needed to know what type of business this is. I was met with so many barriers to receive services and ultimately I had to send them over to my attorney for review . Take my advice if you trying to get services or assistance . Please go to someone else and not here . It will waste your time . By the time you are done the landlord and you will be very frustrated .if you can just get your rent paid by someone else .

I understand everyone here is just trying to do their job, but being made to jump through multiple hoops to even be able to apply for affordable housing in the first place is bad enough (and gives the impression that those who need affordable housing in the first place are less deserving/ should be made to work harder than those moee fortunate). add in the months long back and forths with (polite and well intentioned, but ultimately unhelpful and/ or incompetent) staff only to get rejected in the end anyway is incredibly frustrating, and personally does not give me a lot of faith in a system that is ostensibly meant to help. I was rejected based on income restrictions, something that was known by my eligibility specialist, Melissa Paiz, from the start of the process, and something that could've easily been communicated to me then, instead of two months later. huge waste of time and incredibly frustrating.

After I registered and took 8 hours of training home buyer class, the whole year was wasted by my case worker, Alvaro Aldana, who could have taken my case more seriously and was unaccountable. Sometimes, he asks me for one document three or four times; other times, he forgets what he asked me, but it is a waste of time, and he gives up.

Well, wat gets me is, when this program was opened to many, during the fill out process, they didn't have no way of confirming money's that was applied for, which is anutha down fall they knew. Such as (rent/electric). The set up is, it's years pass, so if u need assistance later, which was the procedure at first..., u can't get it, cause they can't prove where payments went. When it was their system just flowing out benefits with no notation as it said in the application process. 🤔Hmm, I find that strange!! The messed up things is, that was in 2020/2021. The way of these folk that run this so called government only look out for those of a peddle stool step. What they don't get is, their is a Higher Power that will have all falling to their knees, an wat they will sware is that they are duen The Most High Yah's Work, knowing dag on well, He sees all that is bein done to His True People and those Whom are Grafted in... Mm mm mm!

Attended the 2 hour webinar for hpap and never recieved the certificate. They will not respond to emails. Looked them up to see who i could contact to get my certificate and this is a pattern for them. DO NOT USE THEM FOR HPAP.

I have a rental assistance thrue Stay DC and was approved but didn't get the check that supposed goes to my landlord and I sent emails it takes 2 to 3 weeks before it response and says I need more information they have my information ?and the check won't sent it to me it goes to the landlord... You get so frustrated because it's just back and forth all they going to do is just sent it to my landlord but still just all talking it's a waste of time makes you disappointed. I wish I could gave them zero

I'd be careful on attending their "webinars" regarding the HPAP program. My GF and I participated in the 2 hour program and there wasn't any follow-up. The same day we emailed them asking for the next steps and for our certificate and they never responded. We never received our certificates. I'd try HPAP counseling services offered by other agencies, given that this particular agency does not value the 2 hours spent, learning about the program.

There should be directions on their site about the location. You literally have to pass the building number that would be after their in numerical order, to stumble across an alley with a sign telling you to walk to the top of the alley. As a pregnant woman, I was concerned and especially with the time my class would end. I prayed it would end before dark so I would have to walk through an alley alone at that time. Other than that, service was great and the instructor was amazing! This was on January 9, 2018.