Topic: Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD announces $113 million available for public housing transformation, community revitalization.

July 15, 2009 |

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the availability of $113 million in HOPE VI funding today in a keynote address on the future of urban revitalization at the National Press Club during the Brookings Institution’s event, “From Despair to Hope: Two HUD Secretaries on Urban Revitalization and Opportunity.” Donovan joined former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros in a comprehensive discussion about the HOPE VI revitalization program and the Obama Administration’s proposed Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, which seeks to build on the lessons from HOPE VI and expand urban revitalization beyond public housing. The full text of Donovan’s speech is available here.

“The HOPE VI Program has improved the conditions of low-income communities across this nation,” said Donovan. “However, HOPE VI was developed in response to the concentrated poverty that resulted not in spite of government housing policy in the twentieth century – but often because of it. Now is the time for us to take the lessons learned from HOPE VI, build on the accomplishments, and broaden the scope of the program for broader impact. Today’s funding announcement is the first step toward this new comprehensive approach, because for the first time, we are encouraging housing authorities to incorporate early childhood education components into the HOPE VI planning process.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD issues 2008 annual homeless assessment report to Congress

July 13, 2009 |

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today issued its 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, a national study that explores changes in homelessness nationwide. HUD’s assessment concludes that while overall homelessness in America held fairly steady from 2007 to 2008, the number of homeless families, particularly those living in suburban and rural areas, increased.

In addition to the annual report, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced that HUD will, for the first time ever, begin measuring homelessness on a quarterly basis to gain a better understanding of the impact of the current economic crisis on homelessness. The first “Homeless Pulse Project” for the first quarter of 2009 is now available.

A homeless person

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD allocates over $1 billion in to jump-start affordable housing construction in 26 states

July 6, 2009 |

WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that HUD is approving plans submitted by state housing finance agencies for $1,035,322,485 to jump start affordable housing programs in states throughout the country that are currently stalled due to the economic recession. Funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), HUD’s new Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) will allow 26 state housing finance agencies to resume funding of affordable rental housing projects across the nation while stimulating employment in the hard-hit construction trades.

“The purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to jumpstart the nation’s ailing economy, with a primary focus on creating and saving jobs in the near term,” said Secretary Donovan. “The funding being announced today is an important step in achieving the goal of putting the American people back to work while providing quality, affordable housing options for low-income families at a time when those options are needed more than ever.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD offers $58 million for housing counseling

June 20, 2009 |

Funding to help hundreds of thousands of homeowners, homebuyers and renters find and sustain housing

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that more than $58 million is available for a broad range of housing counseling programs to help families find and preserve housing. The funding is an increase of $11 million, or 23 percent, over last year. These grants will be awarded competitively to hundreds of HUD-approved counseling agencies and State Housing Finance Agencies that offer a variety of services including how to purchase or rent a home, how to avoid foreclosure, how to improve credit scores, and how to qualify for a reverse mortgage.

“Now, more than ever, it is crucial that American families make informed decisions about their housing choices,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “These counseling agencies are also vital to the success of the President’s Making Home Affordable Plan which is helping families avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD Secretary Donovan and National Fair Housing Alliance roll out media campaign

June 9, 2009 |

HUD and Fair Housing Group Partner to Fight Foreclosures and Discrimination

WASHINGTON- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) rolled out their national media campaign to fight foreclosures and discrimination.

NFHA and HUD have partnered to create a national media campaign that informs consumers about alternatives to foreclosure, how to avoid predatory loan terms and how to recognize and report rental discrimination. NFHA’s members nationwide, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and other groups will assist with distributing the materials.

“Many families, particularly minorities, have been victims of aggressive and misleading marketing of risky loan products and foreclosure rescue scams,” said HUD Secretary Donovan. “As we implement President Obama’s Making Home Affordable plan to deal with the foreclosure crisis we need to ensure that families in trouble with their mortgages are not hurt a second time with scams. Foreclosure scams are destructive, devastating, and deceptive, and I’m thrilled that the National Fair Housing Alliance, in partnership with HUD is launching an ad campaign to address the fair housing challenges in the foreclosure crisis, including predatory lending and foreclosure scams.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD and fair housing partners report record number of housing discrimination complaints

June 9, 2009 |

More than 10,000 complaints filed last year, most alleging disability discrimination

WASHINGTON – A record 10,552 fair housing discrimination complaints were filed in fiscal year 2008, according to a report just released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The report, which is produced for Congress each year, shows that a large portion of the complaints, 44 percent, were filed by persons with disabilities. Thirty-five percent, or 3,699, of the complaints alleged discrimination based on race.

“Despite progress, housing discrimination continues in America. We must put a stop to it and stand up for anyone who is unlawfully denied a home of their own,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Fighting against housing discrimination and affirmatively furthering fair housing are twin priorities of HUD and the Obama Administration.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD makes $117 million available to clean up dangerous lead in housing

May 26, 2009 |

Funding protects children from lead poisoning

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that more than $117 million is available to eliminate dangerous lead-based paint hazards from lower income homes and protect young children from lead poisoning. The grants are being offered to States and local governments through HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Programs.

“There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our children, and these grants are a significant investment in their futures,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “These grants will support the efforts of state and local governments to clean up lead hazards in order to protect young children and their families from the lasting effects of lead poisoning.”

Even though lead-based paint was banned for use in the home in 1978, HUD estimates that approximately 24 million homes still have significant lead-based paint hazards today. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

Donovan announces intent to move forward with REPSA reform

May 13, 2009 |

Mortgage Reform will save consumers an average of $700; HUD withdraws ‘required use’ definition after review of 1,200 public comments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced his intention to implement the mortgage reforms under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) that are scheduled to take full effect on January 1, 2010. For the first time in more than 30 years, HUD is updating mortgage rules to help consumers shop for the lowest cost mortgage, avoid costly and potentially harmful loan offers, and save an average of $700. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

HUD makes nearly $1 billion available in Recovery Act funds to improve public housing

May 12, 2009 |

Grants will help the elderly and disabled, boost energy efficiency and create jobs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan today announced that HUD is offering nearly $1 billion to make substantial improvements to thousands of public housing units nationwide. The Public Housing Capital Funds being offered today are provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and are designed to help selected public housing authorities improve the quality of their housing stock, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.

In March, HUD allocated nearly $3 billion in Recovery Act funding to more than 3,100 public housing authorities across the U.S. Distributed by formula, that funding is already being put to work to improve public housing and create safer, more livable environments for lower income residents. This additional $1 billion will be awarded competitively. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

© 2009 Clarksville, TN Online is owned and operated by residents of Clarksville Tennessee.
» We are Hosted by Compu-Net Enterprises; In Partnership with Discover Clarksville and Discover Paris