Housing Authorities - City & County of Fresno

Local Housing Counceling Agency

Since 1995, The Housing Authority City of Fresno (HACF) certified Local Housing Counseling Agency (LHCA) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has offered interactive homeownership education workshops, one-on-one rental, pre/post-purchase, and foreclosure prevention counseling. The primary objectives of the LHCA are to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing and preserve homeownership.

One-on-one counseling and educational workshops are offered for the following:
Rental: Tenant/Owner Responsibilities
Pre-Purchase: Credit Education/Repair, Budgeting, Mortgage Options, Downpayment Assistance Programs (DAP)
Post-Purchase: Mortgage Delinquency, Refinancing, Foreclosure Prevention, Loss Mitigation
Predatory Lending – Counseling Sessions and education targeted for: renters & Pre-Purchase Homebuyers, and Homeowners

Homeownership Education and Counseling (HEC) Class
The HEC class focuses on making homeownership a sustainable reality for low-income families with extensive education in the home buying process, home maintenance, and preventative mortgage delinquency education. Certificate of Completion from the HEC class is used to qualify eligible families for 1st-time homebuyer programs including downpayment assistance programs such as: IDEA/WISH, City/County DAP, etc. Please see the HEC course details below:

First Session in Class room
A) Learning from the Professionals - Participants receives training from:

Lenders,
Realtors,
Title Companies,
Hazard Insurance Agents

These professionals help participants learn the home buying process, the involvement of multiple organizations, and prepare them for their role in making the escrow process work in their favor. Participants also learn the real estate, mortgage and title company lingo, and they are coached in asking pertinent questions throughout the home purchase and escrow process.

B) Pre-purchase Education- Extensive Counseling/Training from a Housing Counselor

Down Payment Assistance Programs, including the NSP program requirements (Debt/Income Ratios and Minimum Down Payments requirements –if any)
Shopping for a Suitable Mortgage Product
Budgeting
Financial Education
Mortgage Insurance
FHA Loan
Fair Lending
Credit Education
Loan Documents (GFE, Truth in Lending, Loan Application 1003, Note, Trustees Deed, etc)
Predatory Lending
Preventing Mortgage Delinquency
Energy Star

Second Session in Maintenance room
Home Maintenance- Training by a Home Inspector & Home Maintenance Expert

Safety and Health (points to consider prior to purchasing a home)
Easy Electrical Repairs
Changing Window Screens
Water Heater Maintenance
Faucets and Toilets
Minor Appliances
Walls and Flooring
Community Resources for Homeowners
Energy Star

Services are offered in English, Spanish and Hmong.

Schedule & Registration information can be found at our announcements page.

Foreclosure Prevention / Loss Mitigation
Currently, foreclosures dominate the marketplace and the LHCA receives a large volume of phone calls/emails requests daily from families who are losing their home. Due to the high demand of counseling services for foreclosure prevention, the LHCA is offering loss mitigation/foreclosure prevention education workshops. The focus of the workshop is to educate struggling homeowners on resolving difficult loan situations and avoiding foreclosure. The workshop requires families to bring documentation of their income, expenses, debts, mortgage loan, and prepares them to effectively work 1:1 with a housing counselor, and ultimately with their lender.