Housing

November 13, 2009 -- Warwick, RI - As millions of American homeowners continue to struggle against the tide of home foreclosures, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) heard from Rhode Island homebuyers and realtors yesterday about the recession's impact on the local housing market. Whitehouse hosted a roundtable discussion at The Rhode Island Association of Realtors in Warwick.    » read more »

Murphy Testifies at Banking Hearing in Support of Bill to Provide Housing for People with Disabilities

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) testified on how to expand affordable housing options for seniors and Americans living with disabilities at a Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development hearing. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Banking Committee, joined Murphy in calling for the modernization of federal housing assistance programs to ensure they can meet the needs of low-income residents of Connecticut and the rest of the nation.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today the largest monetary payment ever obtained by the department in the settlement of a case alleging housing discrimination in the rental of apartments. Los Angeles apartment owner Donald T. Sterling has agreed to pay $2.725 million to settle allegations that he discriminated against African-Americans, Hispanics and families with children at apartment buildings he controls in Los Angeles. The settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan called on Congress to approve three important measures to improve housing and the housing market for Americans: extension of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit for a limited period, extension of higher loan limits for home mortgages, and secure funding for the Housing Trust Fund.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- Today Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) praised the agreement to ensure that Americans would continue to have access to the Homebuyers Tax Credit. This tax credit is working to turn around the housing market and build economic security for millions of middle class families.

Dodd had joined Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) in pushing to extend the credit.

The final agreement includes Dodd and Isaksons’ provision to extend the credit to people looking to buy a new home after having owned and lived in a home for more than five years. More than 70 percent of existing homeowners will now be eligible to take advantage of this program and use the credit to buy a new home.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today delivered opening remarks at the 2009 Maine Affordable Housing Conference at the Augusta Civic Center. The conference, hosted by MaineHousing, highlighted many innovations undertaken at the State level to address housing issues during these challenging economic times.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, have introduced legislation that would make it easier for consumers to take advantage of a tax break in the stimulus package intended to encourage the purchase and manufacture of energy-efficient doors, windows, and skylights.

“I have seen firsthand how the tax credit can make a difference, both for the West Virginia industries that produce and sell these energy efficient windows and for the families who use them. We need to make it easier for people to understand and be able to take advantage of these tax credits, so they can get more for their money, particularly during these tough economic times,” said Senator Rockefeller.    » read more »

Sen. Kohl Announces Treasury Initiative To Help Wisconsin Families Gain Access To Affordable Housing

10/19/09 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced that the United States Treasury Department will begin purchasing mortgage revenue bonds allowing housing finance agencies, such as the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), to continue their affordable home loan program and other housing development projects move forward. These programs provide housing solutions for low and moderate income families across the state.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee and a leading advocate for Gulf Coast recovery efforts, issued the following statement today after President Obama visited New Orleans to assess the city’s progress and heard from residents about the challenges they continue to face:

“More than four years after Hurricane Katrina, I remain concerned about the recovery of the Gulf Coast in general, and the City of New Orleans, in particular. Katrina was one of the deadliest storms in our nation’s history, taking over 1,800 lives, displacing more than one million people, severely damaging over 300,000 housing units, and causing at least $81 billion in damages.    » read more »

10/16/09 -- WASHINGTON - Congresswomen Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today announced that organizations in Westchester and Rockland Counties will receive tens of thousands in federal funding to support a variety of housing and homeownership services, and the City of White Plains will receive more than $900,000 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“The housing crisis is especially severe in the New York metropolitan area where the cost of living is so high and affordable housing opportunities are so difficult to find,” said Lowey. “I am pleased this federal funding will support community organizations’ efforts to help those in need of housing assistance.”    » read more »

Senator Tours the OSU Student-Built Clean Energy House in DOE Solar Decathlon Competition

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today met with the Ohio State University student competitors at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon, a challenge to design, build, and operate the most hospitable, energy-efficient solar-powered house. Brown toured The OSU house on the National Mall, which is currently displayed alongside 19 other structures engineered by competing teams from around the world.    » read more »

U.S. Treasury’s tax credit exchange funds to restart 10 projects, create jobs

BOSTON – October 15, 2009 – As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will utilize $50.3 million in federal recovery funds to create hundreds of jobs and revive affordable housing developments stalled throughout the Commonwealth due to the lack of equity available in low-income housing tax credit markets.    » read more »

Urge Actions to Stem Foreclosures and Stabilize Housing Market

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Following the recent release of a Congressional Oversight Panel (COP) report, which found that the Administration’s current housing relief efforts lack scope, scale and permanence, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) and top economist Dr. Mark Zandi, today, held a press conference to highlight the need for a comprehensive homeownership vesting plan to address the nearly 12 million homeowners who are currently underwater-- owing more on their mortgage than the value of their home.    » read more »

Obama Administration Announces $60 Million In Housing Counseling Grants To Nearly 500 National, State And Local Agencies

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Hundreds of thousands of American families will have a greater opportunity to find housing or keep the homes they have because of $60 million in housing counseling and counseling training grants announced today by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.

Housing counseling grants will assist families in becoming first-time homeowners and remaining homeowners after their purchase. HUD-approved counseling agencies not only provide homeownership counseling, but also offer financial literacy training to renters and homeless individuals and families.    » read more »

12.6 percent increase in home sales within 2009 due to federal tax credit; Calls for extension of federal tax credit to ensure home sales continue to rise

9 October 2009 -- Cherry Hill, NJ - Congressman John Adler (NJ-03), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, today released a report highlighting how the first-time homebuyer tax credit has helped stabilize New Jersey and Pennsylvania's housing market. Joined by the New Jersey Association of REALTORS®, Congressman Adler called for an extension of the federal program.    » read more »