Shaun Donovan

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 »

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 »

October 12, 2009 -- (Orlando, Fla.) – Congressman Alan Grayson, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Mayor Buddy Dyer toured a neighborhood and highlighted two successful programs helping resolve the problems of foreclosure and slumping property values today in Orlando.

Congressman Grayson said, "A home is not only a roof over your head. It creates jobs for plumbers, carpenters and real estate agents; it's an investment and a savings account; and a paid-off mortgage means security for senior citizens. That's why we are trying to so hard to revive housing in Central Florida."    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – This morning, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner hosted Attorney General Eric Holder, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Jim Freis and attorneys general from 12 states to discuss emerging trends and proactive strategies to combat fraud against consumers in the housing markets as well as best practices to bolster coordination across state and federal agencies.

This meeting follows up on an announcement by the Obama Administration in April of a multi-agency crackdown on foreclosure rescue scams and loan modification fraud designed to protect homeowners from predatory financial practices.    » read more »

Technical experts will help communities better manage backlog of foreclosed homes

August 26, 2009 --
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD is launching a $50 million effort to help state and local governments address the inventory of foreclosed properties assisted under the Department's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). HUD is awarding $44.5 million to nine national organizations and another $5.5 million to help local communities purchase, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed properties in especially hard-hit neighborhoods.    » 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

May 28, 2009 -- Billings, Montana -- U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visited Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, May 27, as part of his "Listening and Learning" tour. He was joined by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Sen. Jon Tester and Gov. Brian Schweitzer. The day included visits to Lame Deer High School, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Broadwater Elementary School, as well as a news conference at Montana State University-Billings and a roundtable meeting with Montana's tribal leaders.    » read more »

Announcement Comes During Visit to Montana Native American Tribes and Housing Authorities

May 27, 2009 -- BILLINGS, MT - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that HUD is offering more than $252 million to Indian tribes and Alaskan native communities to improve housing and stimulate community development. Provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, these grants are intended to promote greater energy efficiency, mold remediation, and energy conservation retrofit investments.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- Denver — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the Department's participation in new agency partnerships to foster job growth for a new green economy at Tuesday's meeting of the Middle-Class Task Force in Denver. Along with the Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, the Department of Education has committed to developing new policies, proposals and ideas to help America's middle class.    » read more »

Department of Labor Announces $500 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Green Job Training

DENVER, CO – As part of their commitment to developing new policies, proposals and ideas to help America’s middle class, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced new agency partnerships to foster job growth for a new green economy at today’s meeting of the Middle Class Task Force in Denver.    » read more »

Department of Labor Announces $500 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Green Job Training

May 26, 2009 -- DENVER, CO - As part of their commitment to developing new policies, proposals and ideas to help America's middle class, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced new agency partnerships to foster job growth for a new green economy at today's meeting of the Middle Class Task Force in Denver.    » read more »

Current guidelines leave 47 Housing Authorities ineligible

May 21, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, 16 members from the Pennsylvania delegation sent a letter to Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) urging him to reconsider selection criteria for the $1 billion in Public Housing Capital Funds included in the Economic Stimulus, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Based on current HUD requirements, only 35 of the 82 public housing authorities in Pennsylvania will be eligible to compete for the $1 billion available in the initial round of funding. The selection criteria was made public in a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on May 7, 2009.    » read more »