National Faith HomeBuyers was founded in 1996 by Dina Harris in Washtenaw County, Michigan, originally as the Washtenaw Homebuyers Program before expanding to Detroit and eventually Atlanta. The organization is built on the principle that homeownership should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or financial situation. With over 25 years of operation, the organization has counseled more than 7,000 families and facilitated over 1,000 first-time home purchases. The founder brings 40+ years of housing industry experience to the organization's mission.
National Faith HomeBuyers offers a comprehensive suite of free services designed to guide clients through every stage of homeownership. Their core offerings include homebuyer education classes, down payment assistance programs (up to $25,000 in some jurisdictions), foreclosure prevention and assistance workshops, financial literacy training, credit education, and HUD-approved housing counseling. All services are provided with no listed cost to clients. The organization hosts virtual workshops and in-person information sessions monthly, with clients required to attend an initial session before scheduling one-on-one housing counseling appointments. They maintain an active events calendar and encourage registration through their Eventbrite page.
What distinguishes National Faith HomeBuyers is their explicitly non-judgmental, compassionate approach combined with deep experience context in the housing industry. The organization specifically targets first-time homebuyers and those at risk of foreclosure, populations that often find the homebuying process overwhelming. They emphasize financial responsibility and client empowerment rather than simply processing applications. The founder's personal experience as a first-time homebuyer who needed assistance directly informs the organization's client-centered philosophy. Their expansion to multiple states demonstrates growing recognition of their model's effectiveness.
Honest assessment: National Faith HomeBuyers is a legitimate, experienced non-profit that delivers genuine value through free education and counseling. However, availability is limited to Detroit, Westland, and Atlanta locations—geographic constraints that exclude most of the country. Down payment assistance appears contingent on local municipal programs (referenced through Detroit's partnership), meaning availability and award amounts vary by location. The organization focuses on education and counseling rather than direct lending, so clients still need to secure mortgages through traditional lenders after completing their programs.