CDCB operates seven housing and educational programs to meet the needs of Cameron County residents. CDCB also operates six different programs to help meet the homeownership needs of low and moderate income residents of Cameron and Willacy Counties.
- Housing Subdivisions Program
- Colonia Redevelopment Program
- Self Help Program
- Down Payment Assistant Programs
- Youthbuild Program
- Counseling/Educational Programs
Counseling/Educational Programs
For many people, owning a home is the American dream and it can become a reality, but not without realistic goals, good advice, practical planning and an understanding of the costs involved. As in any enterprise, the more you know about homeownership, the better able you will be to reach your goals. Being educated and informed will allow you to take the confusion and uncertainty out of the home-buying process. For this reason CDCB started the Housing Information and Education Center to assist residents of Brownsville and Southern Cameron County learning about the pros and cons of homeownership.
CDCB’s HIEC assists individuals and families with counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners in improving their housing conditions and meeting the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership through the effective use of a Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program implemented through its Homebuyer Education and Information Center.
CDCB conducts community outreach and marketing activities in English and Spanish to provide small group, targeted product, homeownership education, pre and post purchase counseling, delinquency, HECM, default and loss mitigation counseling to individuals. The objective is to increase awareness of the home buying process; to provide knowledge of and access to specialized mortgage products; to provide individualized budget and credit counseling for a specific home purchase; and to assist families in avoiding foreclosure and loss.
In addition to the above, CDCB continues to provide neighborhood based workshops/ activities and services that include the following:
- CDCB sponsors First-Time Homebuyer Workshops in targeted areas. Participants in each workshop include CDCB staff, lenders, mortgage companies, builders, realtors, and credit agencies. Individual lender booths are set up to provide individuals the opportunity to discuss specific loan needs. CDCB provides information on special loan products available to low and moderate income persons. Within the Homebuyer Workshop format, CDCB housing counselors conduct an interactive workshop for one hour that allows for first time homebuyers to learn about renting vs. owning, to learn about the purchase transaction, to analyze individual budgets, and to determine personal housing affordability. Both visual overhead and workbooks are used to solicit participation and provide for “take-home” information. The workshops are conducted in a bilingual setting.
- CDCB organizes and sponsors semi-annual Credit Fairs in conjunction with lenders and major credit agencies hosted at a local school or neighborhood church. Credit Fairs focuses on the basics of credit; how to read a credit report; how to correct bad credit; how to establish credit; and how and when to use credit.
- CDCB organizes an annual series of Consumer Education Workshops, with one workshop presented monthly. Workshops are advertised through general circulation newspapers, flyers, and public television. Various professionals volunteer their time to present on topics of expertise. The series includes such topics as Reverse Mortgages; Estate Planning; Cleaning Up Your Credit; Wills; Bankruptcy; Alternative Mortgage Products; Home Equity Loans; and How Much Insurance Do You Need.
- CDCB holds Open Houses on a frequent basis in neighborhoods where it is building new homes. The Open House method allows for persons interested in or seeking homeownership meet with housing counselors to discuss their housing needs and are scheduled with our Loan Officers to learn more about homeownership and available alternative lending products. Open Houses are held in neighborhood locations, as well as in CDCB Affordable Housing subdivision developments.
