Houston Area Community Resources (2011)

 Compiled by

The Credit Coalition

3300 Lyons Ave. #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  

DISCLAIMER: Visitors who use these links leave www.creditcoalition.org, which is produced and managed by the Credit Coalition. The Credit Coalition is not responsible for the content of linked web sites, which are not within the control of the Credit Coalition, and which may not follow the same privacy, security, or accessibility policies. A visitor to a non-Credit Coalition web site is subject to the policies of that web site.

Some of these links are links to private industry web sites. In furnishing such private industry links, the Credit Coalition does not endorse, approve, or support any individual, organization, sponsor, view, item, product, or service presented or referenced at the linked web site. The Credit Coalition cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by or the operability of these web sites.

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

Credit Reporting Agencies Servicing the Texas Gulf Coast Area

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

Trans Union LLC

Fee:  $11.00 Individual

Trans Union, Consumer Relations
2 Baldwin Place
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022

1-800-888-4213
www.transunion.com

OPT-OUT of Mailing Lists

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.

Greater Houston Fair Housing Center
713-641-3247

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

STUDENT AID RESOURCES
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp
 

FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION & PREVENTION  RESOURCES
The following web sites will help with financial education, clarify mortgage terminology, free services available to the homeowner, free counseling, and outreach events coming to your area.

Worried you might lose your job and/or your health care?  Considering going back to work because you've lost so much of your retirement income?  At risk of losing your home?  In this time of economic crisis, the AARP Foundation wants to help you find real relief.  Go to www.aarp.org/realrelief.

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

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs: http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/homeownership/foreclosure/index.htm

Learn About the Making Home Affordable Refinance and Modification Options: http://www.financialstability.gov/makinghomeaffordable/

Learn about HOPE LoanPort: the fastest way for counselors to connect to mortgage servicers - and get you the answers you need.
For information on how this organization is using HOPE LoanPort to help families in your area, please click here.

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?

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 http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/avoiding_foreclosure.

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 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.

Free Homebuyer and Credit  Information

Credit Coalition
713-224-8100
 www.creditcoalition.org
Free 6-week, 15 hour, “Fundamentals of Good Credit”

Bank on Houston
832-393-3406
www.bankonhouston.org

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.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development    www.hud.gov

FDIC Money Smart: A Credit Education Program    www.fdic.gov

Federal Trade Commission Free Literature       www.ftc.gov

Buying and Owning a Home Freddie Mac   http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buying_and_owning.html

Buying a Home Department of Housing and Urban Development   http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm

FHA Loans Federal Housing Administration    http://www.hud.gov/buying/loans.cfm

Homeownership Resources Fannie Mae    http://www.fanniemae.com/kb/index?page=home&c=homebuyers

Home Loan Learning Center Mortgage Bankers Association    http://www.homeloanlearningcenter.com/default.htm

Houston Association of Realtors MLS    www.HAR.com

Move, Inc. listings for sale or rent, senior housing, and other moving resources   http://www.move.com/

Home Loan Guaranty Services Dept. of Veterans Affairs    http://www.homeloans.va.gov/

Texas Veteran Land Board     http://www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/

Texas Department of Housing and Consumer Affairs     http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/homeownership/index.htm

State and Local Home Buyer Assistance Programs     http://www.hud.gov/buying/localbuying.cfm

Housing Publications from the Federal Citizen Information Center Most in PDF format     http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/results.tpl?id1=17&startat=1&--woSECTIONSdatarq=17&--SECTIONSword=ww

Consumer Information from NAHB    http://www.nahb.org/page.aspx/category/sectionID=112

Mortgage information from the Federal Reserve Board     http://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/index.cfm?nav=9493

FDIC Consumer Protection      http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/index.html

Home Financing Information from the FTC Federal Trade Commission     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/mortgage.shtm

Texas Foreclosure Prevention Task Force    http://texasforeclosurehelp.org/

Houston Area IDA Programs
Individual Development Accounts are matching savings programs that can be used towards the purchase of the following: Home Purchase, Small Business, Post-Secondary Education.

Covenant Community Capital Corporation
IDA Program
Paulina Serrano 713-223-1864 x10
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

Gulf Coast Community Services Association
IDA Program- Norma Moreno 713-393-4700
www.gccsa.org
**Home Purchase, Small Business, Post-Secondary Education

Golden Triangle IDA Program, serving the Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange areas
For information call Paulina Serrano 713-223-1864 x 10 or paulina@covenantcapital.org
**Home Purchase, Post-Secondary Education

Home Repair and Assistance Programs

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

Local Down Payment Assistance and/or Closing Cost Assistance Programs

City of Houston:  www.houstonhousing.org
713-522-HOME

City of Baytown:  www.baytown.org
281-420-5396

Harris County Community and Economic Development:  www.cedd.hctx.net
713-578-2000

Brazoria County 
979-864-1860

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

Easter Seals of Greater Houston- Home of Your Own Program
For persons with disabilities
Houston Home of Your Own Program
Easter Seals of Greater Houston
4500 Bissonnet, Suite 340
Bellaire, Texas 77401
Phone (v/TDD): 713-838-9050           Fax: 713-838-9098

Houston Housing Finance Corporation
713-461-2749 x4

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:

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
1-800-792-1119
www.MyFirstTexasHome.com

Texas Veteran Land Board
1-800-252-VETS
 www.glo.state.tx.us

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Houston Habitat for Humanity
3750 N McCarty St
Houston, TX 77029-1046
Phone: (713) 671-9993                       Fax: (713) 671-9295

Habitat for Humanity-Northwest Harris County
PO Box 682785
Houston, TX 77268-2785
Phone: 281-820-2307            

Pasadena-Habitat for Humanity
218 Pasadena Fwy
Pasadena, TX 77506
Phone: (713) 534-6061                       Fax: (713) 943-0426

Alvin, Friendswood HFH
PO Box 2255
Friendswood, TX 77549-2255
Phone: (281) 648-3633

Beaumont Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 3174
Beaumont, TX 77704-3174
Phone: (409) 832-5853           Fax: (409) 833-6329

Montgomery County Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 2624
Conroe, TX 77305-2624
Phone: (936) 441-4663                       Fax: (936) 756-4667

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity - Houston
P.O. Box 1284
Dickinson, Texas 77539-1284            Phone: (281) 337-3590

Southern Brazoria County HFH
100 Cedar Ste # 6
Lake Jackson, TX 77566-6163
Phone: (979) 285-2800           Fax: (409) 238-0626

Fort Bend County HFH
10435 Greenbough Dr Ste 200
Stafford, TX 77477-5033
Phone: (281) 261-1835                       Fax: 281-261-1833

Baytown Habitat for Humanity
2701 W Main St
Baytown, TX 77520-6220
Phone: (281) 427-0866

Texas City HFM
PO Box 726
Texas City, TX 77592
Phone: (409) 945-4696

CREDIT COALITION AGENCY SERVICES DISCLOSURE