Model of a house with a stack of moneyHome, it’s more than brick-and-mortar, wood, or even blocks of ice shaped in a dome! Home is your place, your retreat from the world, your sanctuary for the soul. For me, home is all of those things and toilets to clean, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Everyone should have an opportunity to live in a decent, affordable home. No one should have to worry about being able to find a safe place to live.

On July 12, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that more than $550 million will be made available in housing assistance to very low income elderly and persons with disabilities. The funding will provide interest-free capital advances to non-profit developers so they can produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and provide supportive services.

The assistance will be in the form of grants. These grants will fund 169 projects in 46 states. To see what kind of assistance is being provided to your state, you can read a detailed summary of each grant. If you have questions regarding housing assistance for low income elderly and persons with disabilities, or any of HUD’s other programs, you can search for a HUD-approved housing counselor in your state.

If you are not elderly or disabled, but you need housing assistance, you should know there may be a program to help you. The Obama Administration’s Making Home Affordable Program
includes opportunities to modify or refinance your mortgage to make your monthly payments more affordable. It also includes the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program for homeowners who are interested in a short
sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Check the HUD website to find out if you are eligible for this program or call 1-888-995-HOPE
(4673) for help with the Making Home Affordable Program and to speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor for free.