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Fair Housing of Northern California (formerly Fair Housing of Marin)
Are you facing foreclosure or having difficulty making your mortgage payments? Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) offers free foreclosure prevention services to homeowners in Marin, Sonoma, Solano and Napa counties. As a HUD-approved Housing Counseling agency, FHANC’s counselors can help you determine the best options and identify resources and programs specific to your needs. More information is available here.

FHANC is hosting an Introduction to Homebuying and Affordable Homeownerhsip Programs workshop on November 8th from 7PM to 9PM at the Marin County Office of Education, 111 Gallinas Ave. in San Rafael.  You can register for the event here. To learn more about this opportunity, please see the event flyer.

Marin Housing Authority
Marin Housing Authority is a public corporation that administers many affordable housing programs in Marin County, outside of the City of Novato. These include: Below-Market Rate Home Ownership Program, Residential Rehabilitation Loans, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program and housing for seniors and persons with disabilities. Learn more about Marin Housing Authority here.

City of Novato Affordable Rentals
Affordable rental units are offered to income-qualifying households at several apartment complexes in Novato. More information is available here.

City of Novato Senior Housing, Resources & Services
Information on housing for seniors including homes for rent and for purchase, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, mobile home parks and housing assistance agencies is available here.

Housing & Economic Rights Advocates (HERA)
HERA is a statewide non-profit organization that provides legal services, advocating that “all people are protected from discrimination and economic abuses, especially in the realm of housing.” Focusing on the low-income, elderly, immigrants, people of color and people with disabilities, HERA is a great resource for a range of homeowners. Visit HERA’s website for more information.

HUD Counseling Agencies
HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) counseling agencies are a great resource for homebuyers and homeowners alike. These housing counseling agencies provide pre-purchase and post-purchase advice on topics such as buying a home, defaults, foreclosures, and credit issues. A list of HUD counseling agencies in the Bay Area can be found here.

California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)
CalHFA supports the needs of renters and homebuyers by providing financing and programs that create safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities for low to moderate income Californians. CalHFA has first and junior loan options for low to moderate income families, including low to zero interest rate down payment assistance loans. Visit CalHFA’s wesbite for more information.

SparkPoint Marin
SparkPoint Marin is a financial coaching center helping home buyers, homeowners and others who wish to improve their finances by establishing good credit, increasing income and building assets. SparkPoint members work individually with a coach to develop a step-by step plan based on personal financial goals. SparkPoint services are free of charge. Their goal is to empower their clients to achieve financial stability and increase their long-term prosperity. They also provide tax filing services. For more information call (415) 526-7530 or visit their website here.