GSDC

GSDC's Southwest REACH Center: a one-stop resource for Working Families

GSDC's housing programs and services focus on strengthening the community by providing education, foreclosure intervention counseling, technical assistance, and financial guidance to the area's homeowners and renters. GSDC is a HUD certified housing counseling agency and provides these services at no cost to our clients.

The GSDC Housing Counseling Division is located at the Southwest REACH Center, a Center for Working Families, at 6155 S. Pulaski, on the second floor of Marquette Bank. Housing/Financial counselors provide first-time homebuyer services, foreclosure prevention counseling, reviews of mortgage transactions, reverse mortgage counseling and financial counseling to assist residents with budgeting, banking and credit issues.

The staff at the REACH Center also provides an array of employment services, including resume preparation, job assistance services and job placements. In addition, screening for Illinois Public Benefits is provided. Through this screening, eligibility for public benefits is determined; applications for the appropriate programs are generated and submitted to the Illinois Department of Human Services. Basic computer classes are also offered n English and Spanish to help you learn about and connect to the Internet. The computer resource room is open to all residents in the community who lack computers at home. Please call the Southwest REACH Center for more information about all these services.

First-Time Homebuyer Services

Get ready for homeownership! Many renters don't realize that it's possible for them to purchase a home. GSDC connects people with the information and resources they need to become first-time home buyers. We offer educational classes in English and Spanish, and individual pre-purchase counseling, to help you successfully navigate the home buying process.

• First-Time Homebuyer Classes. Knowledge builds successful homeownership! First-Time Homebuyer Classes help homebuyers learn about budgeting, saving, credit reports, house hunting, working with real estate agents, applying for a mortgage, the closing process, and basic home maintenance.
• Individual Counseling. Need more personalized help? GSDC's knowledgeable staff helps homebuyers evaluate their mortgage readiness, establish alternative credit, learn to budget and manage money, rebuild credit, search for a home, compare mortgage products, and much more.