Totally Free, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in July 2001 with a mission to help individuals struggling with excessive debt and housing instability. The organization emerged from a grassroots passion to fill a knowledge gap in financial empowerment and has grown significantly over two decades to serve over 5,000 clients across its service area.
The organization provides a comprehensive suite of services including credit improvement counseling, foreclosure prevention assistance, homeownership education and certification programs (including down payment assistance preparation), financial literacy training, and discount home sales facilitation. They serve 30 counties across Georgia and maintain credentials through HUD approval and NeighborWorks America (a congressionally-founded organization) staff certifications, ensuring their counseling meets federal standards.
Totally Free, Inc. distinguishes itself through deep community integration and institutional recognition. The organization received a Magnolia Award for Outstanding Homeownership Achievement in Housing Counseling from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in 2005, serves as the Community Housing Resource Assistance Board Chair for Brunswick, and participates in Georgia Initiatives for Community Housing (GICH) teams in Glynn and Camden Counties. This positioning indicates sustained credibility and established partnerships rather than a newer startup model.
However, potential clients should note several limitations: the organization operates exclusively in Georgia (30 counties only), making it geographically restricted. The website provides limited detail on specific program eligibility requirements, waiting times, or detailed service costs. While they mention partnerships offering affordable homes and lending products, the organization explicitly states clients are under no obligation to use these services, suggesting they function primarily as educational/counseling entities rather than direct financial service providers.