Community Service
Avenue CDC Housing Assistance
Avenue CDC helps Houston families find homes they can afford and teaches them how to buy their own house. They also help people learn how to manage their money better so they can reach their housing goals.
“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love. ”
— Rainer Maria RilkeRelated
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The Future of Food Banking: Understanding Income, Food Insecurity, and Health
“ The Future of Food Banking Brian Greene 9.17.18 Origins of Food Banking When I first started in food banking some 30 years ago, the mission seemed simple: end hunger. We truly thought we could end...”
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The Change Lab 2025 Annual Report: Building Civic Infrastructure Through Community Connection
“ THE CHANGE LAB A community of practice 2025 ANNUAL REPORT THE CHANGE LABthechangelab.net · A fiscally sponsored project of Impact Hub Houston · Page 1 of 2 We connect by serving and learning toget...”
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Social Connection in America: 2025 Survey Report on Community Bonds and Well-Being
“ 2025 Survey Report About This Project This survey will catalyze a broad and lasting impact—transforming how we define, prioritize, and support social connection in America. This survey is led by D...”
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How to Give Different Types of Gifts to Help Houston CharitiesThe Greater Houston Community Foundation helps people donate money and other valuable things to help their community. You can give cash, stocks, real estate, business shares, art, jewelry, life insurance, or retirement money. Each type of gift has different tax benefits. Some gifts help right away, while others help after you pass away. The Foundation works with donors to pick the best way to give based on their money situation and what causes they care about. They accept many different types of donations so people can give in the way that works best for them. You need to follow IRS rules to get tax deductions for charitable gifts. The Foundation has advisors who help people understand their options and make the biggest impact with their giving.
Ways to Give Money to Habitat for Humanity Montgomery CountyHabitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, Texas offers many ways for people to donate money to help build affordable homes. You can give money to honor someone you love or remember someone who died. You can donate stocks and other investments. If your company matches donations, your gift can be doubled or tripled. Some companies also give money when their workers volunteer. You can plan to give money in your will or trust to help families for years to come. The organization builds homes for families who need affordable housing. They have offices in Conroe, Texas and a ReStore where people can buy donated items. All donations help families get safe, decent homes they can afford.
Community Groups Win Big Changes for Better Jobs, Housing, and SchoolsThe Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) helps community groups across America make big changes that improve people's lives. Their biggest wins include: helping over 16,000 people in Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana get better-paying jobs that average $40,000 per year through job training programs. They built over 4,500 affordable homes in poor neighborhoods in New York, Baltimore, and Washington DC, completely changing these areas. In Texas, they helped improve schools by getting parents more involved, which raised test scores by 15-19%. They created the first 'living wage' law in Baltimore that requires city workers to earn enough money to support a family. They helped pass Massachusetts' universal health care law that gave 500,000 people health insurance - this became the model for the national Affordable Care Act. Along the Texas-Mexico border, they got over $2 billion invested to bring clean water and sewers to poor communities. These victories show how organized communities can win major improvements in jobs, housing, education, wages, health care, and basic services.
IAF Community Organizing Wins on Housing, Policy, and Power BuildingThe Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) is a national network of community organizing groups that teaches people to build power and create change in their neighborhoods. Founded by Saul Alinsky in the 1940s, IAF has helped build over 2,800 affordable homes through the Nehemiah program in New York, with foreclosure rates below 1%. The organization has 50+ affiliates across the US training thousands of leaders to work on housing, immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and other local issues. IAF uses a model of broad-based organizing that brings together people from different backgrounds - churches, unions, schools - to identify problems and hold politicians accountable for solutions. Recent updates highlight their housing success stories, media recognition of their work, and a historic meeting with Pope Francis where 20 leaders discussed their organizing approach. The organization emphasizes listening to communities, building relationships across differences, and never doing for others what they can do for themselves. IAF groups work at local, state and national levels to win concrete changes that improve people's daily lives through strategic political action.
Similar Services (6)
All servicesAvenue CDC - Homebuyer AssistanceHelps first-time homebuyers learn about buying a house, get down payment help, and find affordable homes in Houston neighborhoods.Houston 211 HelplineCall or text 211 to get free help finding food, housing, jobs, healthcare, and other services in Houston. Trained helpers are available 24/7 to connect you with resources in your neighborhood.Convivir Wellness Hub ServicesAllies in Caring helps immigrant families with free counseling, job search help, housing, food, and healthcare. They offer services in English and Spanish, both in person and online.Houston Housing AuthorityHelps low-income families find affordable places to live through public housing and rental assistance programs like Section 8.Star of Hope — Emergency ShelterEmergency shelter, meals, and case management for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness. Also offers job training and recovery programs.Professional Advisor Partnership ServicesThis program teaches financial advisors how to help their clients donate money to good causes. Advisors learn about different ways to give that can also save money on taxes. The foundation handles all the paperwork so advisors can focus on helping their clients make a positive difference.
The Journey
39 connected resources across 5 levelsTrail depth
Level 1
Get CuriousRead, watch, explore3 resourcesLevel 2
Find Your PeopleMeet orgs, neighbors, groups15 resourcesYou are hereOrganizationHabitat for Humanity of Montgomery County
OrganizationKinder Institute for Urban ResearchA research center at Rice University that studies Houston's biggest challenges — housing, education, health, jobs, and population — to help make the city better for everyone.
OrganizationCommunities Foundation of TexasCommunities Foundation of Texas is dedicated to building thriving communities by inspiring philanthropy and fostering impactful giving for lasting change.
+12 more at this levelLevel 3
Show UpEvents, meetings, volunteering1 resourceLevel 4
Go DeeperTraining, sustained involvement16 resourcesLevel 5
Make Your MoveAdvocacy, organizing, creating4 resources