This program provides counseling to consumers on seeking, financing, maintaining, renting, or owning a home. The program also addresses homelessness through counseling and assists homeowners in need of foreclosure assistance.

The Housing Counseling Assistance Program enables anyone who wants to (or already does) rent or own housing-whether through a HUD program, a Veterans Affairs program, other Federal programs, a State or local program, or the regular private market-to get the counseling they need to make their rent or mortgage payments and to be a responsible tenant or owner in other ways.

The counseling is provided by HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.

• Grantees. Only HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and State Housing Finance Agencies are eligible to apply for Housing Counseling grants. To become HUD-approved, an agency must contact the HUD Office of Housing Counseling to confer about the agency's eligibility and submit an application for approval. Grantees must file quarterly invoices, mid-term performance reports, and a final report. The HUD Office of Housing Counseling reviews the performance of each agency to evaluate whether the agency can keep its HUD approved status.
• Customers. Individuals, families, or groups who are tenants, homeowners, homeless, or homebuyers, may receive counseling from HUD-approved and HUD funded housing counseling agencies.
• Activities. Eligible housing counseling activities can include: rental, default, homeownership, homeless and reverse mortgage counseling for senior homeowners.

Our Casas Resident Council allows first-time home buyers to purchase an affordable, single-family home in San Antonio.

Our Casas has provided affordable housing, homebuyer education, and foreclosure prevention services to low-moderate income families since 1990. Our HUD-certified Housing Counseling Agency and City certified Community Housing Development Organization, prepares families for homeownership, and prevents foreclosure. 

Upcoming Affordable Home Projects:

-Westside/Kayton Homes--due by mid-2025, this project consists of three, 3BR, 2BA homes in the Southeast part of San Antonio.

-Apache Creek/Dario Chapa Casitas--due by mid to late-2025, this project continues our production of casitas for $100,000 or less in the near Westside.

The Executive Director of the nonprofit says tackling the affordable housing issue this way helps not just the family, but also improves the neighborhood by removing an empty lot putting a house there.

“It’s helping a family meet that American dream of homeownership that is what has been driving the country forever, and we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity,” said Zeke Romo, Executive Director of Our Casas Resident Council. "You bringing a vacant lot into the tax rolls for example this home over 100 years will bring in with taxes $5000 per year and no telling other kind of income with the family shopping in the neighborhood and eating at restaurants all over the west side.”

The nonprofit is looking to purchase more vacant lots in different parts of the city where affordable housing is desperately needed.

The organization is already accepting applications for purchase.

“A house is a symbol of opportunity, it’s a symbol of safety, it’s a sanctuary for families,”
-Mayor Ron Nirenberg

As the cost of housing continues to cause economic pressure on San Antonio residents, partnerships with Our Casas Affordable Homes Project are vital,” District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo said. “Our families deserve quality housing, and the addition of this home with a casita in the 78207 shows our City’s commitment to supporting San Antonio residents by providing accessible housing.”

The creation of a family home is the culmination of systemwide efforts to align our funding streams, partnerships, and resident services to promote homeownership and reinvestment back into our neighborhoods.

In 2017, the Office of Urban Redevelopment (OURSA) sold five lots to Our Casas to build five single-family homes that would be sold to eligible first-time homebuyers who are earning 80 percent of the Area Median Income or less, which is an annual income of $63,750 for a family of three. 

Affordable homeownership through infill development demonstrates the power of collaborating with our housing partners to expand access to housing stability and opportunity for our families.

To view photos of some of the homes that were built for the program or being worked on click here.

Visit here to learn more about affordable homes and our affordable homes qualifying criteria.

Eligibility for Affordable Home Program

• First-time homebuyer
• U.S citizen or permanent resident
• Must be at 80% AMI or less
• Families or Individuals
• Application can be located here.

Our Mission:
Our Casas organizes motivates, and assists low-income families to move towards self-sufficiency and into the economic mainstream of employment and home ownership.

We provide a unique opportunity to provide current agency clients with relevant information to purchase a new affordable home.  Our comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization includes not only affordable housing but also homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention services.

Our Expertise:
With over 30 years of combined experience, our team of builders, architects, and designers has the expertise to handle any project, no matter how complex. We use the latest technology and construction techniques to ensure that our homes are of the highest quality.

You can download the specific criteria for applicants, per Our Casas Resident Council, Inc., here. 

If you would like to contact us for more information regarding the process for the program, contact us here, or by phone at (210) 354-2400 from 9:00 am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday, or visit OCRC at 2300 W Commerce St Ste #302.

Reduced Cost

• For Prospective Homeowners

The Fair Housing Council of South Texas staff conducts housing counseling services for consumers who want to know about their rights under the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act.

Staff provide consumers with information about their rights, make suggestions about how to resolve their housing issue, and, as appropriate, make referrals to other organizations that may be able to assist the consumer with a non-fair housing related problem.

A housing counseling session can also be done in person at our office by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call (210) 733-3247, ext. 101.

There are no fees for consumers and consumers can remain anonymous—not give their name

First Footing program offers people experiencing homelessness a safe place to stay. Individuals undergo an interview process and if accepted, have 24 hour staff support. 

The program model is built to come alongside adults on their journey out of homelessness and into a safe, stable home with mental and physical health care, employability skills training, budgeting education, and housing navigation. 

First Footing program offers: 

• ID recovery
• Addition recovery
• Employment assistance 
• Transportation
• Case management

First Footing serves primarily longtime residents of New Braunfels however, each individual is taken case by case.

Free of charge.

The role of the HomeTeam is to identify and track encampments and regularly reach out to unhoused individuals, offering medical care, behavioral healthcare, shelter and safety, and pathways to employment and housing.

Free.

Homelessness is a community problem that will not go away without active, collaborative intervention. Understanding the root causes of homelessness and what we can do to improve the health of our community is part of the solution. Want to be a voice that impacts homelessness? 

Please contact us at [email protected] or 830.272-5020.

In-Kind Donation: Click here for common items needed.

Housing Donations: Click here for a list of needs most often needed for a fresh start in housing.

Donate: here