CONCORD — Interested in learning more about buying a house, improving your credit or how to save energy and money? Then travel to the Salvio Pacheco Plaza 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today for a housing resource fair aimed at affordable housing and creating healthy credit.

"We wanted to have the fair at this time because of all the negative things coming out now about housing," said Wanda Remmers, executive director of the Berkeley-based Housing Rights Inc., one of the event sponsors. "We wanted something not just dealing with the credit crisis and focused on foreclosures."

Remmers said that the fair is a place where several lending institutions, grass-roots organizations and other groups will have booths aimed at educating the public about housing on three levels.

There's the first-time home buyers who can learn what kind of resources exist for them; those who need to clean up their finances before they buy a home; and learning about recycling and "greening" the home. Information regarding other housing resources, low-interest loans for repairs and how to look for housing will be available.

Remmers said the current foreclosure crisis has hit communities and families very hard and for many families, the tighter credit standards have made it hard to find loans. Workshops and one-on-one financial education and credit counseling will also be available.

Fourth District Contra Costa County Supervisor Susan Bonilla will be speaking

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at 11:30 a.m. at the event.

In a written statement, the supervisor encouraged residents to "learn about options available during these difficult economic times. Please take advantage of these programs and resources that are right here in our community."

Barbara E. Hernandez covers real estate. Reach her at 925-952-5063 or bhernandez@bayareanewsgroup.com. Read her real estate blog, Property Lines, at www.ibabuzz.com/propertylines.