Housing and
Social Services

FAIR HOUSING

The Fair Housing Workshops/Fair Housing Initiative Program assists consumers in The City of Houston, Texas and the following counties: Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, Austin and Montgomery.

The program designed to address the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative Mortgage Rescue Component, conducting fair housing and lending workshops and community meetings.  HAUL will advocate and provide direct assistance to victims of fair housing and fair lending laws that are a result of fraudulent or predatory mortgage rescue schemes.  Houston Area Urban League will conduct group and individual housing counseling.  APPLY TODAY

PREPURCHASE PROGRAM

The Financial Education and Credit Enhancement Pre-Purchase Program will allow homeowners or former homeowners to re-enter the mortgage market being more knowledgeable and mortgage ready. This housing counseling service will allow HAUL to reach a greater number of homeowners about to lose their home and will assist individuals and families in the process of buying a home by improving their credit worthiness by increasing their credit scores. The Financial Education program workshop scheduled one hour monthly at no charge to the client to address budgeting, saving, debt reduction and credit issues.

HAUL’s program provides Credit Analysis, which includes a comprehensive review of a client’s credit file, Credit Education which includes financial education covering removals of barriers to homeownership, budgeting, establishing and maintaining credit and shopping for a loan to purchase a home. Credit Enhancement provides additional credit repair counseling to bring potential borrowers up to standard based on area lender partner programs. Clients will receive 2 hours of orientation, 4 hours of Financial Education, and 8 hours of homebuyer education. Clients will receive optional 1 hour of one- on-one counseling and 1 hour of quarterly assessment counseling.    APPLY TODAY

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS

The First Time Homebuyers Workshop is designed to assist low to moderate-income families with the home buying process. Classes are in English and Spanish covering: recommendations regarding readiness and preparation for homeownership; FHA insured financing; housing selection and mobility; search assistance; budgeting and credit; loan product and feature comparison; purchase and closing and money management.

Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshop and Pre-purchase/Home buying Counseling:
HAUL Housing Department assists clients in the First Time Homebuyer and Housing Program over a one-year period. Pre-purchase homebuyers are scheduled for an intensive six-hour group education and scheduled for a minimum of two hours optional one-on-one counseling. Credit Reports are pulled prior to the counseling session and are analyzed and reviewed with the client. If necessary, clients referred to more detailed credit enhancement services. As a final step in counseling, a certificate issued to the client and discussion regarding issues during the period of homeownership (financing the home, refinancing, mortgage default, foreclosure prevention, sale or transition from the home). Clients tracked through closing or to a resolution of the housing process. The curriculum utilized is Keys to Homeownership – 2nd Edition, National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Home Inspection materials are provided during the homebuyer education workshop to all clients expressing interest in purchasing a home and discussed during counseling. All clients sign and confirm receipt of Home Inspection materials, which is included in the client file.   APPLY TODAY

FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS

Financial Education workshop educate families with basic money management skills, which include goal setting, understanding your money, developing and maintaining a budget, savings, credit / debit and credit management. The curriculum utilized is building Wealth, A Beginner’s guide to Securing Your financial Future, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.  APPLY TODAY

CREDIT ENHANCEMENT

Credit Enhancement service is offered to First Time Homebuyers with credit blemishes and low credit scores (FICO Score) to achieve their dream of homeownership by participation in an extensive one-on-one credit-counseling program to improve their credit rating within a specific time frame.

The Credit Enhancement Program is also available to other individuals and families, not currently in the process of buying a home, but interested in improving their credit worthiness by increasing their credit scores.  Credit scores are a critical factor used by lending institutions in making loan approval.  APPLY TODAY

NON-DELINQUENCY POST PURCHASE WORKSHOPS

Homebuyers are inundated with opportunities for new purchases and the suggestions of sales representatives to make immediate improvements, security, appliances and new car. When first time homebuyers are approved, we review budgets and make necessary adjustments to ensure the monthly bills are not exceeded, however within a twelve (12) month period, families can become vulnerable to default and foreclosure due to their lack of understanding of responsibilities associated with homeownership.

In order to be effective in this process, we need to provide a more comprehensive approach in order to reach families in a more proactive period. The process is implemented within 30 days of closing on their home. Housing counselors will continue to work with the client on a quarterly basis via telephone and/or email to discuss issues that homeowners face during a calendar year.

Counseling calls and/or emails may include but not limited to budget changes, pre-approved credit limits, new purchases, HOA fees, non-escrowed taxes, utility bills, etc. Utilizing the established relationship with the homeowner, Housing Counselors will be able to monitor and listen for any red flags. During one-on-one home visits, counselors discuss maintaining the home, which includes (re-financing, mortgage default, foreclosure prevention, sale and transition from the home).  Additionally, collaborative partnerships have been established with local and national businesses such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Reliant Energy, TXU and County Appraisal Districts to provide onsite, quarterly training sessions to promote topics such as energy savings, DIY home repair, asset protection and taxes.  APPLY TODAY

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS

The First Time Homebuyers Workshop is designed to assist low to moderate-income families with the home buying process. Classes are in English and Spanish covering: recommendations regarding readiness and preparation for homeownership; FHA insured financing; housing selection and mobility; search assistance; budgeting and credit; loan product and feature comparison; purchase and closing and money management.

Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshop and Pre-purchase/Home buying Counseling:
HAUL Housing Department assists clients in the First Time Homebuyer and Housing Program over a one-year period. Pre-purchase homebuyers are scheduled for an intensive six-hour group education and scheduled for a minimum of two hours optional one-on-one counseling. Credit Reports are pulled prior to the counseling session and are analyzed and reviewed with the client. If necessary, clients referred to more detailed credit enhancement services. As a final step in counseling, a certificate issued to the client and discussion regarding issues during the period of homeownership (financing the home, refinancing, mortgage default, foreclosure prevention, sale or transition from the home). Clients tracked through closing or to a resolution of the housing process. The curriculum utilized is Keys to Homeownership – 2nd Edition, National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Home Inspection materials are provided during the homebuyer education workshop to all clients expressing interest in purchasing a home and discussed during counseling. All clients sign and confirm receipt of Home Inspection materials, which is included in the client file.   APPLY TODAY