Ronald:I understand your dilemma...the fact is in your search for assistance, you would need to be speaking to an organization that was actually working towards securing the funds from HUD and Dept. of Ag. for Rural housing development for low income peoples.
Only 501 C 3 organizations qualify to receive funds, and they are very accountable to report exactly how the funds were spent, or they will not receive any more, or be accountable to pay them back.
The programs you note above primarily work with those who qualify for down payment assistance and self-help programs. Typically, the homeless do not, under the parameters set forth by Federal Guidelines.
I suggest you speak with your local Homeless shelter, and ask whom is working on permanent housing issues within their unit. Habitat works under these guidelines, and usually at least one other Human Resources Development Group. The homeless shelters often have a long-term housing component, with workforce development as a component. Once you enroll in one of those programs, you can then begin the qualification process with the organizations working to obtain funding under the grant programs you noted.
I write grants for an organization in Montana that identifies those within the homeless community who meet the basic guidelines under the programs you noted. WE then get them placed in decent, longer range housing, while we take them through the classes they need to qualify for down payment assistance and self help instruction. There are many steps involved, and it often takes 2 or more years until homeownership has been achieved. It is a slow process, but there are organizations out there working to provide poverty reduction through homeownership.
The city offices have a record of what organizations are receiving CDBG funds for self help housing. I suggest if the homeless shelter cannot answer your questions, speak to city hall.
They are the ones disbursing federal block grants for low income housing programs in your area.
