The first step after the client has been approved and has agreed to the terms of the program is to set the parameters within which they will work. The most important component of this is to set the expectation as to what price of home they can afford. HELP must be sure to put the client into a home which they can afford to purchase at the end of the program. This amount is determined by taking the gross income and subtracting the consumer debt, current other debt and any other financial obligations (child support etc). HELP then allows a percentage of the remaining amount to be used for the home payment. Knowing the amount the client has to spend sets the stage for responsible home ownership and prepares the way for a successful process.