Resources on Foreclosures, Housing News, and Recovery Plans

To help organizations maximize their impact during the economic downturn, the Community Development program will support efforts that align investments with and/or access funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act programs. For more information on TSFF’s foreclosure responses and related grantmaking, please contact the Community Development team.

Selected Resources on Foreclosure

• California Reinvestment Coalition – CRC provides publications on the foreclosure crisis, videos and news releases, updates on actions, and monitoring of predatory lending and banking practices.
• Center for Responsible Lending – Since 2002, CRL has protected homeownership and family wealth by working to eliminate abusive financial practices.
• National Housing Trust – The National Housing Trust provides information on and analysis of stimulus programs related to the preservation of affordable homes and energy-efficiency.
• National Low Income Housing Coalition – NLIHC provides the latest news on federal policy pertaining to affordable housing.
• Urban Strategies Council – Urban Strategies Council provides detailed and current data and maps on foreclosures in Oakland.
• Making Home Affordable Program – The federal government’s program includes opportunities to modify or refinance mortgages. It also includes the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program for homeowners who are interested in a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. The federal hotline for foreclosure assistance is 888.995.HOPE.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is announcing new programs, including a campaign to fight foreclosures and discrimination. See the latest press releases here. See HUD’s Guide to Avoiding Foreclosures if you or someone you know is at risk of losing their home.

Local Organizations and Direct Services

These partners of The San Francisco Foundation are finding solutions to foreclosures through direct family support, financial and legal assistance, and policy advocacy. Many of these organizations provide foreclosure counseling in several languages, including Spanish, Cantonese, Lao, Mandarin, Thai, and Vietnamese.

• Asian, Inc. – For 37 years, Asian, Inc. has responded to the emerging needs of the Asian American community providing opportunities for growth, enrichment, economic success, homeownership, and financial counseling.
• Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organizations – CCISCO is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, interfaith federation of 25 congregations and youth organizations representing over 35,000 families, most of whom are low- and moderate-income. CCISCO has been focusing on foreclosure response, connecting with leaders at the local level and across the country to advocate for solutions.
• Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond – CHDC is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and a member of NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit organization chartered by Congress to support community development and revitalization. CHDC serves families throughout Contra Costa County.
• Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto – CLSEPA provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in East Palo Alto and the surrounding community. Practice areas include housing, immigration, general civil litigation, and anti-predatory lending.
• Consumer Credit Counseling Services of San Francisco – By providing comprehensive financial counseling and education, CCCS-SF helps consumers achieve financial independence through debt reduction, homeownership, and improved money management skills.
• East Palo Alto Community and Neighborhood Development Organization – EPACANDO provides homeownership and financial education assistance, and develops rental and ownership housing.
• Housing and Economic Rights Advocates – HERA is a statewide, not-for-profit legal service and advocacy organization. HERA's mission is to ensure that all people are protected from discrimination and economic abuses, especially in the realm of housing.
• Causa Justa/Just Cause – CJJC is a multi-racial, grassroots organization building community leadership to achieve justice for low-income San Francisco and Oakland residents. CJJC has been fighting for tenants’ rights and stopping foreclosures in hard-hit neighborhoods.
• Lao Family Community Development, Inc. – With offices in Oakland, Richmond, and Sacramento, each year LFCD delivers asset development, financial education, employment services, and family support to over 10,000 immigrants, refugees, asylees, and low-income U.S. nationals in over 15 languages.
• Mission Economic Development Agency – For over 34 years, MEDA has worked to improve economic and social conditions in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood by stimulating investment, enhancing the business environment, and creating jobs for area residents.
• Tenants Together – Tenants Together is California’s statewide organization for renter’s rights, which has established a tenants’ foreclosure resource center and hotline (888.495.8020) to assist renters in foreclosure situations.
• Unity Council Homeownership Center – Based in Oakland’s Fruitvale district, the Homeownership Center has served more than 5,100 people seeking assistance with the home buying and home preservation process. Services include budgeting, credit counseling, debt reduction, financial literacy, asset building, homebuyer education, and access to safe, affordable loan products.