Real Estate Education and Community Housing, Inc. in Tampa, FL

Real Estate Education And Community Housing, Inc. (R.E.A.C.H.) is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in January 2006. The organization operates as a HUD-approved Foreclosure and Housing Counseling Agency and is affiliated with HomeFree-USA. Their stated mission is to inspire and motivate low-to-moderate income community members to achieve homeownership through education, counseling, and grant assistance. R.E.A.C.H. positions itself as a provider of tools and support for financial stability and community strength. The organization serves homebuyers, prospective homeowners, and families facing foreclosure or eviction.

R.E.A.C.H. offers multiple programs aligned with homeownership and financial wellness. Their Homebuyer Education Program uses NeighborWorks curriculum and is approved by the Palm Beach County Commission on Affordable Housing. They conduct 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer workshops in both virtual and in-person formats, offered in multiple languages. The Foreclosure Counseling and Intervention Programs help families evaluate options and avoid foreclosure in conjunction with government and private agencies. They also provide pre-purchase counseling, money management education, and post-closing home maintenance classes. A Credit Mitigation Program assists with budgeting, savings, and credit issues, with Second Chance Grants available to pay off past-due accounts subject to pre-qualification and funding availability.

What distinguishes R.E.A.C.H. is its multilingual service delivery (workshops offered in native languages when possible), HUD approval status, and integration of multiple support services under one organization. The organization explicitly targets low-to-moderate income populations and provides free educational workshops alongside counseling. Their affiliation with HomeFree-USA and partnership with local mortgage lenders and real estate professionals suggests established community networks. The availability of down payment assistance guidance and grant programs differentiates them from generic credit counseling services.

However, the website lacks specifics on funding caps, geographic service areas, income thresholds for qualification, actual grant amounts available, and wait times for counseling services. The description of the Credit Mitigation Program and Second Chance Grant eligibility criteria are vague. There is no information about counselor credentials, typical counseling timelines, or success metrics. The website does not clearly distinguish between free services and those requiring fees, though a "Fees & Payment" page exists but content is not provided in the sample.