HUD Fair Lending Public Service Announcement to Showcase in Movie Theatres across the Nation

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.

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The PSA is part of a national campaign the Department launched in April to raise public awareness about lending discrimination, and make consumers aware of the many resources HUD has available to educate prospective and current homeowners about how to get out of a bad loan. To view HUD’s new fair lending PSA, visit HUD’s website.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to alert the public that housing discrimination can occur when a family seeks a home loan,” said Kim Kendrick, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “With greater awareness, we believe we can help homeowners get out of a bad situation.”

Last year, HUD and its state and local fair housing partner agencies received more than 10,000 complaints alleging some form of housing discrimination, including complaints that alleged discrimination related to home financing transactions. Nationwide, 243,353 homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in April, up 65 percent from 147,708 in the same month last year and up four percent since March, according to an industry survey. The public service announcement airing in theatres is expected to reach about one million people.

In addition to the PSA appearing in theatres, HUD’s national lending campaign features television and radio PSAs, a toolkit that lists resources to help consumers learn about the home buying process, and a series of town hall forums to inform the public about HUD’s efforts to reduce unfair and discriminatory lending practices. The town hall forums are being held in 12 cities with high home foreclosure rates: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; El Paso, TX; Fresno, CA; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development