This rule establishes regulations for HUD's Housing Counseling program, as authorized by the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, and for which, for the past several years, notices of funding availability have been issued on an annual basis. This final rule follows publication of a December 23, 2004, proposed rule that adopted and augmented the Housing Counseling program requirements with which grantees and housing counseling agencies are already familiar. This final rule takes into consideration the public comments that were received in response to the proposed rule and makes several changes to the proposed regulatory text at this final rule stage.