There are several other local, regional and statewide programs available to help people buy or keep their home, or to find temporary or permanent housing.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of the Mendocino Coast is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization that is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and world wide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Contact Habitat for Humanity to find out about self-help housing opportunities available on the Mendocino Coast. To contact Habitat for Humanity, email them, or call (707) 964-0942.

Senior Living Help

Senior Living Help is an organization that provides senior living assistance to the elderly. Senior Living Help assists California senior citizens, their family members and caregivers in finding appropriate senior living and care facilities. Many elderly adults are no longer able to be cared for at home, so finding a senior living facility with caring and loving staff becomes necessary. This is when your residents can come to us for help.

Veteran Care Guide

The Veterans Care Guide is designed to help veterans and/or their surviving spouses determine their eligibility, explain how to apply for benefits and cover the various veteran care options.

Rural Communities Housing Development Corporations (RCHDC)

RCHDC is a non-profit organization with a mission "to provide decent, affordable housing to low and moderate income persons." RCHDC develops and manages low-income and senior housing projects and also offers a self-help housing program called the RCHDC Home Ownership Program. Its services and properties are available in Lake, Mendocino and Humboldt counties. Click on the RCHDC link to learn about RCHDC programs as well as to access applications for RCHDC's rental properties. Contact RCHDC at 499 Leslie Street, Ukiah CA 95482, phone (707) 463-1975, or email them.

Property Tax Postponement

The State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement Program returned in 2016 after being suspended by the Legislature in 2009. The program allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind, or have a disability to defer current-year property taxes on their principal residence if they meet certain criteria including 40 percent equity in the home and an annual household income of $35,500 or less.

Applications became available September 1, 2016. Visit the California State Controller website for more information and to download flyers in English, Spanish, Chinese, or Tagalog.

For more detailed program information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions, call toll-free (800) 952-5661, or email them.

Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program

California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has announced changes to its Extra Credit Teacher Program, allowing more K-12 public school employees—including administrators and support staff such as aides, bus drivers, food services workers and janitors—to receive as much as $15,000 in down payment assistance. The program includes educators at public charter schools, school district offices and county continuation schools.

The Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program helps with the down payment and opens the door for more teachers to become homeowners." In California, the average starting salary for an elementary school teacher is less than $42,000 per year. The average annual salary is $69,000 for all public school teachers, according to industry reports. "The Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program provides a vitally important service to the dedicated school employees who serve our students each and every day," said California School Boards Association (CSBA) President Chris Ungar. "By helping these public servants obtain an important piece of the American Dream, homeownership, we are addressing one of the major contributors to attrition from the profession and stabilizing schools and communities in the process."

Under the Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program, public school employees in California's high-cost counties—including those in the Bay Area and Southern California—could qualify for a maximum of $15,000 or 3.5 percent of the sales price or appraised value, whichever is greater. A complete list of the 35 high-cost counties is available online (Mendocino County is referenced as a high cost county). The program greatly benefits educators buying homes for less than $430,000 in those counties.

Educators must meet county-by-county income limits for the program, which are based on the number of people living in the home. Read the full newsletter article published by CalHFA.

Homeless Services

Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center, Inc.
A non-profit organization that is the primary provider of homeless services on the Mendocino Coast. Programs and services include:

Hospitality House Emergency Shelter
Located at 237 North McPherson Street in Fort Bragg, Hospitality House provides 24 beds for male, female and family overnight shelter; breakfast (7 a.m.) and dinner (5 p.m.) daily; and showers and laundry services every weekday. Phone number is (707) 961-1150.

Homeless Resource Center
Use the rear alley entrance at 468 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, to access the Hospitality Center. the Hospitality Center offers access to programs and services including case management, transitional and permanent housing programs, and mail, phone and fax services. Phone (707) 961-0172.

Transitional Housing Program
Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center, Inc. currently operates a Transitional Housing Facility in Fort Bragg that offers 15 beds for those who are ready to move from homelessness to more permanent housing. Call (707) 961-0172 or visit the Hospitality Center at 468 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, for more information.