Local and national non-profit organizations provide a significant opportunity for individuals seeking help with housing and real estate. They can provide help for:

Many of these organizations receive their funding from government agencies, individual solicitations or other non-profit organizations.

Here are some non-profit organizations that offer grants for real estate. Contact your local elected official and your local library to help find non-profits in your area.

Free Home Repair…
Families and seniors living in New York can get free home repair if they do not have the funds to pay for the repairs themselves. New plumbing, walls, floors, appliances and even a new roof are the kinds of repairs that can be provided. Contact: Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, 935 East Avenue, Suite 300, Rochester, NY 14607, 585-461-4263, fax: 585-461-5177, http://www.sheenhousing.org/

Down Payments and Sweat Equity In Florida…
Grants and low interest rate loans are available for down payments in Florida. For new home construction and rehab homes, some programs allow a person to use work (sweat equity) as a down payment. Contact: Affordable Housing Concepts, Inc. 809 E. Bloomingdale Ave, Wuite 395, Brandon, FL 33511, http://www.affordablehousing.com , email: affordahouse@mindspring.com

Volunteers Will Fix Up Your Home For Free…
Many service organizations have begun to organize community service days, where the town is beautified, along with certain homes in need of repair. Christmas in April is a national organization with over 185 affiliates that gather together volunteers to help rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners. The work is done for free with the goal being to provide a safe and secure home for those in need. An example of a program in the Dallas area is the Volunteer Home Repair and Weatherization Program. This program provides home repairs that improve the health, safety, and energy efficiency of homes for low-income homeowners. Contact your city government, your county government and your local community development office to learn about local programs. In the Dallas area, contact Volunteer Home Repair and Weatherization Program, Center for Housing Resources, 3103 Greenwood, Dallas, TX 75204; 214-828-4390, Fax: 214-828-4412; http://www.chrdallas.org

Free Money For Your Down Payment…
Here is a program that will give you 5% of the down payment costs for your new home. This program is open to everyone, not just first time home buyers, and the homes can be valued at up to $300,700! Funds for this program do not need to be repaid and come from funds raised through the AmeriDream Charity. You must purchase the home from a builder or seller who has enrolled their home in the program. Over 4,500 people become homeowners each month through the AmeriDream Downpayment Gift Program. To learn more, contact AmeriDream Charity, 18310 Montgomery Village Ave., Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20879; 301-977-9133; toll-free 866-263-7437; http://www.ameridream.org

Make Up To $50,000 and Get Your Rent and Fuels Bills Paid…
If you are within a certain income and need help paying your heating bills, or need money to make your house more energy efficient, or need funds for urgent repairs, call your local Community Action Agency. There are about 1,000 of them around the country to help neighborhoods. They will also come out and check if your home or apartment needs to be more energy efficient. To find an agency near you, contact National Association of Community Action Agencies, 1100 17th St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; 202-265-7546; Fax: 202-265-8850; http://communityactionpartnership.com. Also, your local utility can provide you with or refer you to other programs in your area to analyze your energy usage, recommend energy saving measures, provide fuel and utility assistance to retain or restore service, establish payment discounts based on income and usage, or establish affordable payment plans if you are in arrears. Contact your local utility company to take advantage of these services.

Get a $2,000 Grant To Fix Up Your Home…
A family of 4 can be making close to $30,000 a year and still be eligible for a 2% interest loan from local their Community Action Agency. Some agencies also offer grants or are aware of other local organizations that provide grants. There are about 1,000 of them around the country to help neighborhoods. To find an agency near you, contact National Association of Community Action Agencies, 1100 17th St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, 202-265-7546; Fax: 202-265-8850; http://communityactionpartnership.com.

Don't Forget...
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Find Free Money To Quit Your Job…
Get the money you need to tell your boss to go shove it. There are thousands of government money programs that will finance getting you the job you always dreamed of. See http://www.lesko.com/quitm3