The amount of ownership you have built up in your home over the years is referred to as home equity. If you are in need of cash in a lump sum, you can borrow against this equity with a home equity loan (aka "second mortgage"). Since the home is used as collateral, a home equity loan's fixed interest rate will often be much lower than the rate on a credit card or a personal loan. Another option is a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which commonly has an adjustable instead of a fixed interest rate, and a revolving credit line instead of a lump sum distribution.
Talk to a local to find out if a home equity loan is right for you.