HUD

HUD Secretary announces eligibility for borrowers up to 125% underwater in Las Vegas with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Congresswoman Dina Titus

July 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced an expansion of the Obama Administration's Home Affordable Refinance Program to include participation by borrowers who are current but up to 125 percent underwater on their mortgage.

Under authorization provided by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, borrowers whose mortgages are currently owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will now be allowed to refinance those loans according to the terms of the Home Affordable Refinance program established earlier this year.    » read more »

Web tool will increase transparency, keep public informed and involved in Recovery Act spending

WASHINGTON – June 22, 2009. Today, HUD announced that it is joining USDA's geospatial project by uploading HUD Recovery Act data into USDA's cutting edge web tool, which will allow Americans to learn how and where HUD is spending money provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

USDA developed the tool and launched it on the 100th day of the Obama Administration. Since USDA launched the tool, there have had more than 1 and a half million hits.    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Sandra Brooks Henriquez was sworn in today as the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Henriquez will oversee the nation's public housing and rental assistance programs that assist approximately 3.2 million low-income families across the U.S. She will also be responsible for HUD's Native American and Native Hawaiian programs, which serves 562 federally recognized tribes.    » read more »

Secretary Donovan Elected New Chair of the Council; HUD and VA announce $75 million for HUD-VASH program to provide rental housing and support for homeless veterans

June 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) met today for the first time under the Obama Administration. U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki chaired the meeting, at which U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan was elected rotating Chair for the upcoming year and U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was elected Vice Chair. U.

S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, attended the meeting.    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman reported today that two New Mexico Pueblos will share over $2 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Laguna Housing Development and Management Enterprise will receive $1.5 million and Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority will receive $939,337 to help provide affordable housing in their communities.

“Quality, affordable housing is out of reach for many people in our state and the problem is especially prevalent on tribal lands. I am pleased that the federal government is making an investment in Laguna and Isleta Pueblo,” Bingaman said.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON— AARP Executive Vice President for Social Impact Nancy LeaMond commended the partnership announced today by HUD, DOT and EPA to apply a series of “livability principles” to federal transportation, environmental protection and housing spending.

AARP has long advocated for livable communities that have affordable and appropriate housing options, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options which together facilitate personal health independence and engagement in community life.

LeaMond said:    » read more »

Governor Jindal Announces $565.5 Million in Federal Aid to Parishes Across State for Recovery from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

June 15, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced Monday that 53 parishes will share more than $565.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to aid their recoveries from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which caused widespread housing and infrastructure damage last year.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notified Louisiana of its second award of disaster recovery funds, meaning the state’s $800 million recovery plan is fully funded.    » read more »

Missouri to Receive Nearly $79 Million in Disaster Recovery Funds

June 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kit Bond announced today that Missouri will receive nearly $79 million in federal dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be used for recovery and clean-up efforts following a federally declared disaster.

“Unfortunately we in Missouri know all too well the damage that Mother Nature can inflict on families, homes and businesses. These funds will help hard-hit cities and rural communities rebuild and recover,” said Bond.    » read more »

Governor Bobby Jindal Announces Second Allocation of Federal Recovery Assistance - $620 Million in Aid for Hurricanes Gustav & Ike Recovery

Jun 10, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced that the federal government’s second allotment of recovery assistance to assist the state in building back from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike totals $620 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the funding earlier today, and this second allotment follows the first allotment of $438 million to Louisiana from HUD last year.    » read more »

United States Files False Claims Act Suit Against California Mortgage Lender Capmark Finance

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice filed suit today against California mortgage lender Capmark Finance Inc., charging that Capmark violated the False Claims Act by making false statements on applications for federal mortgage insurance covering residential nursing homes.

The lawsuit, filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles, relates to a federal program under which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guarantees mortgage loans used to acquire healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – As foreclosure rates around the country continue to rise, it has become increasingly difficult for many homeowners seeking to modify their mortgages to get a hold of their loan servicers. In an effort to help struggling homeowners and ensure that banks and loan servicers are held accountable to requests for help, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and 14 of his Senate colleagues sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan urging HUD to develop and implement a strategy requiring banks and loan servicers, particularly those that have agreed to participate in the Obama Administration’s foreclosure prevention initiatives, to respond to homeowners in a timely fashion.    » read more »

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

June 9, 2009 --
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.

To read the annual State of Fair Housing report, visit HUD’s website.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2009 - Today, 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.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, called on Senate Appropriations Committee members as well as members of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development to provide ample funding for housing and community development activities in the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill.    » read more »

FHA plan will stimulate new home sales and help stabilize housing market

May 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Speaking to the National Association of Home Builders Spring Board of Directors Meeting, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow homebuyers to apply the Obama Administration's new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit toward the purchase costs of a FHA-insured home. Donovan said that today's action will help stabilize the nation's housing market by stimulating home sales across the country.    » read more »