Houston Area Community Resources (2008)
Compiled by
The Credit Coalition
3300 Lyons Ave. #201/203A Houston, TX 77020
713-224-8100 office www.creditcoalition.org 713-224-8102 fax
This resource list is for
informational purposes only.
Please contact each
organization for details specific to their programs.
See our website for updates: www.creditcoalition.org
HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR CREDIT REPORTS?
** FACT Act: Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003
One free credit report per agency per year. Ordering this report does not affect your credit score
www.annualcreditreport.com
1-877-322-8228
Fair Credit Reporting Act: Ordering these personal credit reports do not affect your credit score
1. A copy of your report from any credit bureau can be obtained free of charge within 60 days of being denied credit, insurance or employment due to information on your credit report. If you were charged higher rates and fees or deposits based on a credit report issued by a credit bureau, you have the right to receive a free copy from that bureau (adverse action).
You are also entitled to one free report a year if you certify in writing:
2. You are unemployed and plan to look
for a job within the next 60 days
3. You receive Public Assistance
4. Your report is inaccurate because of FRAUD
You may also purchase your personal credit reports directly from the credit reporting agencies: Ordering these personal credit reports do not affect your credit score
CSC Credit Services (Equifax Credit Information Services)
Fee: $10.00 Individual
CSC Credit Services-Disclosures|
P.O. Box 619054
Dallas, Texas 75261-9054
1‑800-759-5979
www.csccredit.com
Experian
Fee: $10.00 Individual plus tax
Experian, Consumer Assistance Center
P. O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
1-866-200-6020
www.experian.com
Fee: $10.00 Individual
Trans Union, Consumer Relations
P. O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213
www.transunion.com
If you want your name and address removed from all mailing lists offered by the main consumer credit reporting agencies, Trans Union, Experian, Equifax
Call 1- 888- 5OPTOUT (1- 888- 567-8688)
Fair Housing/ Legal Issues
**Are you a Victim of
Fraud?
If you have become or are
likely to become a victim of fraud, you may add a fraud alert by calling the
Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD) toll-free
at 800-680-7289.
Gulf Coast
Community Services Association: Fair Housing
713-393-4700
U. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (Houston)
Phone: (713) 718-3199 Fax:(713)718-3255 TTY: (713) 718-3289
HUD Fair Housing
Hub, Fort Worth, TX
800-669-9777
TTY 817-978-5595
Lone Star Legal Aid: If
you meet the low-income requirements, this is a free service.
(713) 652-0077
The
Center for Consumer Law- University of Houston Law Center
Community Outreach Program
713-743-2168
www.peopleslawyer.net
The Peoples Lawyer
Consumer News Alert
http://www.peopleslawyer.net/newsletter/homepage.asp
Texas Consumer Complaint Center
http://www.texasccc.com
Office of the Texas Attorney General
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
800-252-8011 or 800-621-0508
HOUSTON REGIONAL OFFICE
713-223-5886
Hope Hotline: 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) http://www.hopenow.com
Fannie Mae:
http://www.fanniemae.com
Freddie Mac:
http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buying_and_owning.html
Home Loan Learning Center:
www.homeloanlearningcenter.com
Homeownership Preservation Foundation:
http://www.995hope.org/
MyMoneyManagement:
www.MyMoneyManagement.net
NeighborWorks America:
http://www.nw.org/network/home.asp
Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure
Are you having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments? Have you received a notice from your lender asking you to contact them?
 | Don't ignore the letters from your lender |
| Contact your lender immediately |
| Contact a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency : http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm |
| Toll FREE (800) 569-4287 |
| TTY (800) 877-8339 |
If you are unable to make your mortgage payment:
1. Don't ignore the problem.
The further behind you become, the harder it will be to reinstate your loan and
the more likely that you will lose your house.
2. Contact your lender as soon
as you realize that you have a problem.
Lenders do not want your house. They have options to help borrowers through
difficult financial times.
3. Open and respond to all mail
from your lender.
The first notices you receive will offer good information about foreclosure
prevention options that can help you weather financial problems. Later mail may
include important notice of pending legal action. Your failure to open the mail
will not be an excuse in foreclosure court.
4. Know your mortgage rights.
Find your loan documents and read them so you know what your lender may do if
you can't make your payments. Learn about the foreclosure laws and timeframes
in your state (as every state is different) by contacting the State Government
Housing Office.
5. Understand foreclosure
prevention options.
Valuable information about foreclosure prevention (also called loss mitigation)
options can be found on the internet at
portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=33,717348&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
.
6. Contact a HUD-approved
housing counselor.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds free or very
low cost housing counseling nationwide. Housing counselors can help you
understand the law and your options, organize your finances and represent you in
negotiations with your lender if you need this assistance.
Find a HUD-approved
housing counselor near you
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm or call (800)
569-4287 or TTY (800) 877-8339.
7. Prioritize your spending.
After healthcare, keeping your house should be your first priority. Review your
finances and see where you can cut spending in order to make your mortgage
payment. Look for optional expenses-cable TV, memberships, entertainment-that
you can eliminate. Delay payments on credit cards and other "unsecured" debt
until you have paid your mortgage.
8. Use your assets.
Do you have assets-a second car, jewelry, a whole life insurance policy-that you
can sell for cash to help reinstate your loan? Can anyone in your household get
an extra job to bring in additional income? Even if these efforts don't
significantly increase your available cash or your income, they demonstrate to
your lender that you are willing to make sacrifices to keep your home.
9. Avoid foreclosure prevention
companies.
You don't need to pay fees for foreclosure prevention help-use that money to pay
the mortgage instead. Many for-profit companies will contact you promising to
negotiate with your lender. While these may be legitimate businesses, they will
charge you a hefty fee (often two or three month's mortgage payment) for
information and services your lender or a
HUD approved housing
counselor will provide free if you contact them.
10. Don't lose your house to
foreclosure recovery scams!
If any firm claims they can stop your foreclosure immediately if you sign a
document appointing them to act on your behalf, you may well be signing over the
title to your property and becoming a renter in your own home! Never sign a
legal document without reading and understanding all the terms and getting
professional advice from an attorney, a trusted real estate professional, or a
HUD approved housing
counselor.
Credit Coalition
713-224-8100
www.creditcoalition.org
Free 6-week, 15 hour, “Fundamentals of Good Credit”
Fannie Mae Homeownership Hotline
1-800-7-FANNIE
www.homepath.com
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
"Building Wealth” English and Spanish
http://dallasfed.org/ca/wealth/pdfs/wealth.pdf
Freddie Mac Credit Education Curriculum
CreditSmart®
English at
www.freddiemac.com/creditsmart or in Spanish at
www.freddiemac.com/creditsmartespanol
Don't Borrow Trouble
Campaign
http://www.dontborrowtrouble.com
The Don't Borrow Trouble
campaign arms homeowners with the information they need to protect their homes.
Federal Trade Commission Free Literature www.ftc.gov
FTC Best Sellers (Free): http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/general/bestsell.pdf
Bulk Orders: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/bulkordr.htm
Covenant Community Capital
Corporation
IDA Program
Heather Daron (Program Manager) 713-223-1864 x11
www.covenantcapital.org
**Home Purchase, Small Business, Post-Secondary Education
The Alliance for Multicultural Community Service
IDA Program
713-776-4700
www.allianceontheweb.org
**Home Purchase, Small Business, Post-Secondary Education
Golden Triangle IDA Program, serving the Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange areas
For information call 713-223-1864 x 11 or
heather@covenantcapital.org
**Home Purchase, Post-Secondary Education
The City of Houston Non-Emergency Helpline
311
Habitat Building
Supply Outlet
713-
643-1100
Baytown Community Development
281-420-5390
Pasadena Community Development
713-475-7243
Harris County Community
and Economic Development Department: Minor Home Repair Program
713-578-2000
Northwest Assistance
Ministries
281-885-4555
City of Houston:
www.houstonhousing.org
713-522-HOME
City of Baytown:
www.baytown.org
281-420-5396
MCC- Mortgage Credit Certificate Program
713-260-3553
HACH- Housing Authority of
the City of Houston’s Homeownership Program
713-260-0763
City of College Station,
Community Development Office
979-764-3778
City of Bryan, Community
Development Office
979-209-5175
City of Beaumont,
Community Development Office
409-880-3763
Southeast Texas Housing
Finance Corp.
281-484-HOME
www.sethfc.com
Fort Bend County: The home must be located within Fort Bend County, but outside the cities of Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, and Katy.
Additional areas include:
|
City of Baytown |
Austin
County Brazoria County Chambers County Galveston County (excluding City of Galveston) Liberty County Matagorda County
Montgomery County |
|
|