Contact Info
The Housing Counseling program provides one-on-one counseling for families in a variety of areas related to housing needs. The HUD-Certified Housing Counselor offers guidance, referrals, information, and support to families at risk of becoming homeless.
Housing Counseling Services include:
- Pre-Purchase/Home Buying Counseling: Will cover the entire home buying process from beginning to end.
- First Time Home Buyer Workshops
- 8-hour course currently being offered via zoom
- Required credential to access county grant programs for down payment and closing cost assistance
Financial Literacy Counseling:
- Budget Counseling
- Creating a personalized and sustainable budget that will help you achieve your (housing) goals.
- Information on different types of banking services such as checking and savings accounts to help grow wealth and stability.
- Credit Counseling
- Establishing and repairing credit
- Obtaining credit reports
- Avoiding fraud
Service Output: Training
Hours Available: See service operator for availability.
Eligibility: This program is for residents of DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Service Operators
Step Up Suncoast
Step Up Suncoast, formerly known as Manatee Community Action Agency, Inc. and Manatee Opportunity Council, Inc., was incorporated in 1968 as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to Florida law and was designated by the Governor as the community action agency for its service area.Step Up Suncoast received its first grant of $90,000 in 1965 and was administered by Suncoast Progress of St. Petersburg, Florida. This relationship was maintained until the incorporation of the Agency in 1968.Since its beginning in 1968, Step Up Suncoast has grown from a summer project of serving 510 children with 34 staff members and a $90,000 budget to over 11,000 services annually, 250 staff members and an annual budget of $18,000,000.