For Affordable Rental Housing:

http://www.harriscountytxhousing.org/

The HOPE for Homeowners (H4H) program was created by Congress to help those at risk of default and foreclosure refinance into more affordable, sustainable loans.  H4H is an additional mortgage option designed to keep borrowers in their homes. 

If you are having trouble making your mortgage payments, H4H may be able to help you, by refinancing your loan into a 30-year fixed rate loan with lower payments.

For additional information on how the program works, go to HUD:

 

HOPE NOW Program

HOPE NOW is an alliance between counselors, servicers, investors, and other mortgage market participants who try to prevent foreclosures through outreach to delinquent borrowers.  This alliance provides free counseling and loan workouts based on the borrower's ability to pay.

Homeowner's Hope Hotline  (838) 995-HOPE (4673)

• Absolutely free foreclosure prevention counseling by expert counselors at HUD-approved agencies

• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Beware of any counseling that charges fees!

Homeownership Forums:

• Face to Face with your lender and/or a HUD certified housing counselor about your mortgage

Please check out http://www.hopenow.com/ for upcoming events and more information.  To find a free HUD approved counselor in your area, please check out HUD Counselor.

When should I call my lender? 
As soon as you know you will have difficulty meeting your mortgage payments.

Call today!  Do not wait until your interest rate re-sets

Agency will pay costs for eligible applicants until January 19, 2009. 

FEMA officials announced they will cover the cost of hotel/motel rooms for qualified Hurricane Ike victims participating in the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) Program until January 19, 2009.  The Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) Program provides for short-term, transitional sheltering by directly paying hotels and motels for evacuees' lodging costs.

Applicants with questions should call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362 or visit www.fema.gov

Red Cross Shelters

For current shelter list information, go to:

http://www.houstonredcross.org/

or call 713-313-5286 or 1-800-733-2767

FEMA Begins Referring Families for Housing Assistance

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing a temporary housing assistance program to help individuals displaced by Hurricane Ike. 

FEMA has provided HUD with the names of individuals who may qualify for direct rental assistance until March 2010.  This program will provide housing assistance and case management for homeowners and renters whose homes suffered significant damage. 

For individuals needing help from the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP-Ike), you must first register with FEMA by December 12, 2008.  Only those families meeting FEMA's eligibility requirements for housing assistance will be referred to HUD. 

Families who have already received a letter from FEMA informing them of their eligibility should call HUD's Referral Call Center (RCC) toll free (866) 373-9509 to determine their current housing needs.  The RCC will direct the family to the appropriate public housing authority (PHA) which will begin providing direct rental assistance to the residence of the individual's choice and start case management. 

Once a family is deemed eligible for DHAP assistance, the PHA will pay landlords either the Fair Market Rent (FMR) or the payment standard set by the local PHA, not to exceed the actual rent.  For the first six months, the rent will be paid in full.  Beginning May 1, 2009, the tenant will pay $50.00 towards the rent.  Each month thereafter, the tenant's portion of the rent will increase by $50.00 until the tenant is paying the full rent or terminates from the program. 

Eligible applicants can live in a community outside of the disaster area and DHAP-Ike will subsidize their rent anywhere in the United States.  If housing resources become available a year from now, applicants can move back to the area if suitable housing is available.

Eligible applicants can actively seek and find housing prior to contact from the PHA.  If the applicant finds a rental unit that currently is not listed, call HUD's Referral Call Center (866) 373-9509 to let them know.  The PHA may encourage the landlord to register to participate in DHAP-Ike.  Registering is a simple process that offers the landlord incentives to participate.  Landlords can go to the HUD Web site for a sample rental agreement.  For rental rates, landlords can contact their local PHA:  City of Houston Public Housing Authority (713) 260-2600 or Harris County Housing Authority (713) 578-2100

For additional information on this program, please go to:  http://www.hud.gov.