HUD

FHA implements temporary higher loan limits to help families keep their homes

February 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - More American families will be eligible this year to purchase or refinance their homes using affordable, FHA-insured mortgages, thanks to the economic stimulus package signed into law by President Obama last week. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will allow HUD's Federal Housing Administration to temporarily increase its maximum loan limit, allowing FHA to insure larger mortgages at a more affordable price in high-cost areas of the country.    » read more »

Nearly 75 percent of HUD Recovery funds allocated today

February 25, 2009 --WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today allocated nearly 75 percent of its funding, or $10.1 billion, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, 75 percent of which was allocated to recipients today - only one week after President Obama signed the Act into law.    » read more »

February 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the details of a new six-month transition rental assistance program for families currently enrolled in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP-Katrina/Rita). HUD and FEMA will provide the additional assistance to families as needed until August 31 to give them more time to transition out of the DHAP program, either to self-sufficiency or other federal or state housing programs, including HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.    » read more »

February 5th, 2009 -- The people at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have a crucial role to play in our economic recovery, the First Lady told the staff of the Department during a visit there yesterday.

"At times like these -- and we know times are hard right now -- there's so many families who've lost their homes, and millions are struggling to keep up with their mortgages," Mrs. Obama said.

First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the staff of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: White House photo.    » read more »

Visionary urban leader tapped to serve during time of crisis & opportunity

February 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama today announced he intends to nominate Ron Sims, County Executive of King County, Washington, to become the Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As the Deputy Secretary, Sims will be charged with managing HUD's day-to-day operations, a nearly $39 billion annual operating budget and the agency's 8,500 employees.

Sims has earned numerous accolades and a national reputation for his environmental stewardship, aggressive reforms of government, and for willingness to make the tough choices necessary to ensure that American tax dollars are spent wisely.    » read more »

White tenants forced to move for hosting black neighbors at their home

January 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it has obtained a $63,000 settlement in a housing discrimination case involving a white family who was forced to move from their Tallassee, Alabama home after a visit from their African American neighbors. Brought under the Fair Housing Act, HUD alleged that the family's landlord told the tenants that they had to leave if they intended to have African-American visitors.    » read more »

Actor Dennis Haysbert brings fair lending message to movie goers in 28 cities

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2008 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that a public service announcement (PSA) designed to educate consumers about their fair lending rights is now running on 595 screens in 32 movie theatres in 28 cities, including 10 cities with some of nation’s highest foreclosure rates. HUD’s PSA featuring Dennis Haysbert, will run through July 25. It will be in 32 selected theatres.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today sent a letter to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Brian Montgomery, urging him to reconsider his recommendation that Congress reduce FHA loan limits from $729,750 to $550,000.

Boxer pointed out that the lower loan limits would reduce access to affordable loans to residents of 99 high cost counties across 18 states and the District of Columbia, including 23 counties in California alone.

The text of the letter follows:

June 12, 2008
The Honorable Brian Montgomery
Commissioner
Federal Housing Administration

Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20410

Dear Commissioner Montgomery:    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is providing $6.2 million in financial assistance for five affordable housing projects across Connecticut.

“Increasing affordable housing options is always a priority, and that is especially true as we work to keep and grow jobs during a national economic slowdown,” Governor Rell said. “Making housing affordable revitalizes our downtowns and transforms neighborhoods into tightly knit communities. It also helps our elderly residents remain independent while giving other residents a helping hand in starting or maintaining their working and family lives.    » read more »

$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide; $9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans

April 16, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.

A homeless veteran in New York City: Photo by Jonathan Greenwald (CC)    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- “After hearing multiple appeals seeking additional time for the City of Syracuse City to continue their search for a developer capable of rehabilitating the ElJay apartments, HUD instead chose to dive head first into the auction process. Today, HUD proceeded with their ill-advised auction which was wholly unsuccessful, and failed to attract a single bidder.

Syracuse skyline: Photo by Taku (CC)    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama released the following statement this morning on the resignation of HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson:

"Secretary Jackson's resignation amid a housing crisis and charges of cronyism serves as a stark reminder of what's at stake in this election. It's harder than ever for working families to achieve the American Dream, and that's why we need a president who will cut ties with the special interests so that we can implement a plan that provides real relief to homeowners and prevents the lobbyists from writing the laws that regulate them.    » read more »

3/31/2008 -- "Secretary Jackson's resignation ends a tenure at HUD marked by an indifference to Congressional oversight powers, cronyism, and corrupt contracting practices that have no place in our government. Yet while Secretary Jackson’s resignation is appropriate, it does nothing to address the Bush Administration's wait-and-don't-see posture to our nation's housing crisis, which is threatening to drive our economy into a painful recession.    » read more »

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Announces He Will Resign April 18th, 2008

Washington, D.C. -- March 31, 2008 - Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) issued the following statement concerning the resignation of Secretary Alphonso Jackson from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I did not call for Secretary Jackson’s resignation, but since he decided to do so I think it maybe helpful in getting the $40 million released to provide more housing for the poor people of Philadelphia”

“The need for new leadership in the Department is especially urgent for the sake of the people that rely on public housing.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the resignation of Alphonso Jackson as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

“The resignation of HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson comes at a time when millions of American families are facing the prospect of losing their homes.    » read more »