Community Service
Avenue CDC - Homebuyer Assistance
Helps first-time homebuyers learn about buying a house, get down payment help, and find affordable homes in Houston neighborhoods.
Details
EligibilityFirst-time homebuyers in Houston
FeesFree counseling; program fees vary
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
HoursMon-Fri 9am-5pm
“Some things cost way more when we keep them. ”
— Neeraj AgnihotriRelated
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The Change Lab 2025 Annual Report: Building Civic Infrastructure Through Community Connection
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From the Library
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Ways to Give Money to Habitat for Humanity Montgomery CountyHabitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, Texas offers many ways for people to donate money to help build affordable homes. You can give money to honor someone you love or remember someone who died. You can donate stocks and other investments. If your company matches donations, your gift can be doubled or tripled. Some companies also give money when their workers volunteer. You can plan to give money in your will or trust to help families for years to come. The organization builds homes for families who need affordable housing. They have offices in Conroe, Texas and a ReStore where people can buy donated items. All donations help families get safe, decent homes they can afford.
Community Groups Win Big Changes for Better Jobs, Housing, and SchoolsThe Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) helps community groups across America make big changes that improve people's lives. Their biggest wins include: helping over 16,000 people in Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana get better-paying jobs that average $40,000 per year through job training programs. They built over 4,500 affordable homes in poor neighborhoods in New York, Baltimore, and Washington DC, completely changing these areas. In Texas, they helped improve schools by getting parents more involved, which raised test scores by 15-19%. They created the first 'living wage' law in Baltimore that requires city workers to earn enough money to support a family. They helped pass Massachusetts' universal health care law that gave 500,000 people health insurance - this became the model for the national Affordable Care Act. Along the Texas-Mexico border, they got over $2 billion invested to bring clean water and sewers to poor communities. These victories show how organized communities can win major improvements in jobs, housing, education, wages, health care, and basic services.
IAF Community Organizing Wins on Housing, Policy, and Power BuildingThe Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) is a national network of community organizing groups that teaches people to build power and create change in their neighborhoods. Founded by Saul Alinsky in the 1940s, IAF has helped build over 2,800 affordable homes through the Nehemiah program in New York, with foreclosure rates below 1%. The organization has 50+ affiliates across the US training thousands of leaders to work on housing, immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and other local issues. IAF uses a model of broad-based organizing that brings together people from different backgrounds - churches, unions, schools - to identify problems and hold politicians accountable for solutions. Recent updates highlight their housing success stories, media recognition of their work, and a historic meeting with Pope Francis where 20 leaders discussed their organizing approach. The organization emphasizes listening to communities, building relationships across differences, and never doing for others what they can do for themselves. IAF groups work at local, state and national levels to win concrete changes that improve people's daily lives through strategic political action.
Church Group Helps 6,500 Families Buy Their First HomesThe Nehemiah Strategy is a powerful community development program that has helped over 6,500 families become first-time homeowners. Led by faith communities and organizations like East Brooklyn Congregations, this program transforms empty lots and abandoned land into affordable homes in low-income neighborhoods. The strategy works by getting city governments to sell empty lots cheaply and provide building subsidies. It has created $1.5 billion in wealth for African-American and Latino families in cities like Brooklyn, Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington DC. Rev. David Brawley from St. Paul Community Baptist Church explains that it started with imagination - seeing something better where there were only empty lots. The program works with both Democratic and Republican mayors to secure funding. CBS News featured stories of homeowners like Matilda Dyer, who called her application an 'act of faith,' and Sandra and Armando Martinez, who call their home their 'palace.' This approach helps neighborhoods grow stronger without pushing out existing residents through gentrification. The program proves that with organized community power and vision, the American Dream of homeownership can become real for working families.
Similar Services (6)
All servicesAvenue CDC Housing AssistanceAvenue CDC helps Houston families find homes they can afford and teaches them how to buy their own house. They also help people learn how to manage their money better so they can reach their housing goals.Convivir Wellness Hub ServicesAllies in Caring helps immigrant families with free counseling, job search help, housing, food, and healthcare. They offer services in English and Spanish, both in person and online.Houston 211 HelplineCall or text 211 to get free help finding food, housing, jobs, healthcare, and other services in Houston. Trained helpers are available 24/7 to connect you with resources in your neighborhood.Habitat for Humanity HoustonBuilds affordable homes and provides home repair for low-income families. Volunteer opportunities available.Northwest Assistance MinistriesFood pantry, rent and utility help, health clinic, and job training for northwest Houston families.Houston Housing AuthorityHelps low-income families find affordable places to live through public housing and rental assistance programs like Section 8.
The Journey
31 connected resources across 5 levelsTrail depth
Level 1
Get CuriousRead, watch, explore1 resourceLevel 2
Find Your PeopleMeet orgs, neighbors, groups13 resourcesYou are hereServiceAvenue CDC Housing AssistanceAvenue CDC helps Houston families find homes they can afford and teaches them how to buy their own house. They also help people learn how to manage their money better so they can reach their housing goals.
OrganizationThe Eviction LabWe’ve built the first nationwide database of evictions. Use our map tool to see eviction rates in your community, view rankings for places across the country, and learn about the causes and effects of residential instability.
OrganizationHouston-Galveston Area CouncilAdministers CDBG and regional development across the 13-county Houston-Galveston region.
+10 more at this levelLevel 3
Show UpEvents, meetings, volunteering1 resourceLevel 4
Go DeeperTraining, sustained involvement13 resourcesLevel 5
Make Your MoveAdvocacy, organizing, creating3 resourcesFocus Areas