For information about colonias, go to the National Colonia Clearinghouse.

The Enterprise Foundation

• The Enterprise Foundation is dedicated to bringing lasting improvements to distressed communities. Enterprise is a national, nonprofit housing and community development organization see that all low-income people in the United States have the opportunity for fit and affordable housing and to move up and out of poverty into the mainstream of American life.

Fannie Mae

• Fannie Mae was created by Congress in 1938 to bolster the housing industry during the Depression. In 1968, Fannie Mae became a private company operating with private capital on a self-sustaining basis. Its role was expanded to buy mortgages beyond traditional government loan limits, reaching out to a broader cross-section of Americans. Today, Fannie Mae operates under a congressional charter that directs them to channel our efforts into increasing the availability and affordability of homeownership for low-, moderate-, and middle-income Americans.
  The Fannie Mae Foundation transforms communities through innovative partnerships and initiatives that revitalize neighborhoods and create affordable homeownership and housing opportunities across America. The Foundation's sole source of support is Fannie Mae.

Homepath.com

• Fannie Mae's site to help families with buying or refinancing a home. The site includes a calculator to help you determine how much you can afford under various scenarios.

Housing Assistance Council

• A national nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Housing Assistance Council has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America since 1971. HAC has gained a national reputation by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, program and policy analysis, research and demonstration projects, training, and information services to public, nonprofit and private organizations nationwide who are concerned about affordable housing for low-income people in rural America.

Housing Counseling Agencies

• HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide housing counseling to renters, first-time buyers, and homeowners. Homeowners with problems that could result in default of their mortgage or foreclosure on their property need to contact a HUD-approved housing counseling. Search by geographic area.

McAllen Affordable Homes

• This local organization provides housing opportunities to low income families of the City of McAllen. Assistance includes Rehabilitation of older homes, residential subdivision development, home construction and financing.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

• The National Low Income Housing Coalition/LIHIS is the only national organization dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. The NLIHC is committed to educating, organizing, and advocating to ensure decent, affordable housing within healthy neighborhoods for everyone. NLIHC provides up-to-date information, formulates policy, and educates the public on housing needs and the strategies for solutions.

NeighborWorks

• This site is a function of the neighborhood revitalization and educational services offered by Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, Neighborhood Housing Services of America and a national network of public and private partnerships, the NeighborWorks(r) network. Resources found here provide information relating to a host of community- revitalization efforts from across the country.

Texas A&M University's Center for Housing and Urban Development

• The Center for Housing and Urban Development, (CHUD), located in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University, is a research and outreach center dedicated toward improving the quality of life of Texas residents. CHUD houses the following programs: Colonias Program, Project Unity and Class-Based Research, Teaching and Services - Community Planning and Design Program.

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

• The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is the state's lead agency responsible for affordable housing, community development and community assistance programs, and regulation of the state's manufactured housing industry. TDHCA annually administers funds in excess of $500 million, the overwhelming majority of which is derived from mortgage revenue bond financing and refinancing, federal grants and federal tax credits.

Texas Low Income Housing Information Service

• Texas Low Income Housing Information Service (TxLIHIS) is a nonprofit corporation established in Austin in 1988 to support low-income Texans' efforts to achieve the American dream of a decent, affordable home in a quality neighborhood. Activities include: researching and evaluating low-income housing and community development programs, needs and issues to discover solutions; providing information about low-income housing and community programs, needs and issues to promote public understanding and support; and organizing and empowering low-income people and communities to take the initiative to solve their housing and community development problems.

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development

• A Federal agency offering programs to support public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. Also promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. It offers technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. And finally, it provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.