Housing

Oct. 6, 2009 -- The State of Rhode Island, along with the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket today announced the distribution of $6.9 million for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds will prevent homelessness, due to the loss of housing and jobs, and will provide assistance to move from emergency shelters into stable housing.

Governor Donald Carcieri noted that with the state's high unemployment rate, agencies are seeing individuals and families who are desperate for assistance. "We will be able to help people before they become homeless and get those who are homeless back on their feet. With winter approaching and our shelters at capacity, this program comes at the right time."    » read more »

September, 2009 -- More than a full year after gas prices peaked above $4.00 a gallon, Americans still report changing driving habits and worrying about gas costs.

In AARP’s Closer Look poll, the first of a series of quarterly polls of boomers and older Americans planned for regular release by AARP, half (51%) of all Americans age 45+ reported having had trouble paying for gas or driving less to cut costs in the past year. In fact, more people age 45+ reported problems with gas prices than reported problems paying their medical bills or experiencing losses in the financial markets.    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to curb record-high foreclosure rates across the country and stabilize the housing market, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today introduced legislation that will help keep families in their homes and prevent communities from deteriorating as a result of skyrocketing mortgage defaults.    » read more »

Grants will help create jobs and strengthen communities throughout Louisiana.

09/28/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon, D-La-03, today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $9.9 million in grants to communities throughout Louisiana, and an additional $7.47 million to the State of Louisiana.    » read more »

Brown Points to Rising Occurrence in Ohio of Lenders Refusing to Take Possession of Foreclosed Homes, Leading to Vandalism, Neighborhood Decline

September 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – A growing number of lenders are refusing to take possession of homes after they have been foreclosed, leading to vandalism and neighborhood decline in Cleveland and cities across Ohio. In response to this alarming trend, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called for a federal investigation of so-called “bank walkaways.”    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the full Senate approved $60,550,000 million in funding for various transportation, housing and urban development initiatives in Hawaii.

The Honolulu High Capacity Transit Corridor Project will receive $30 million to fund the continuing preliminary engineering phases of initial facility and transit system design, in addition to the refinement of capital costs estimates, as required by the Federal Transit Administration.    » 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 »

Sept. 17, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Hundreds of Pennsylvania families who are struggling financially will receive critical financial and housing assistance thanks to $22 million in new federal stimulus funds, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

“The national economic downturn has caused a significant number of people and families, through no fault of their own, to become homeless or nearly homeless,” said Governor Rendell. “These funds could not have come at a better time. They’ll boost county and local efforts to help those teetering on the edge of homelessness and provide assistance to those who are homeless.”    » 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 »

Grants bring total HUD's Recovery Act investment in Native American and Alaskan communities to over a half billion dollars

August 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that HUD is awarding five grants, totaling $2.5 million, to Native American and Native Alaskan communities across the country to improve housing and stimulate community development (see below for detailed grant list).

The Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) funds being awarded today are provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). These grants will help Native American tribes improve the quality of their housing stock, develop viable communities, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.    » read more »

August 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration's effort to strengthen communities and ease pressures on the housing market, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced $309 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to spur the development of affordable housing units in Arizona, Connecticut, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Vermont.    » read more »

Funds will create or retain nearly 1,000 affordable housing units, support construction jobs

August 28, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today announced nearly $75 million in funding to 16 affordable housing projects that aid in the preservation or construction of nearly 1,000 housing units throughout the state. The awards were made through a combination of the Culver/Judge I-JOBS initiative, the federal American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Iowa Housing Tax Credit Program.    » read more »

Co-sponsors Disaster State Housing Recover Act

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Senator Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) in introducing the Disaster State Housing Recovery Act. This bill ensures that states with GO Zone or Heartland Act credits, such as Alabama, are treated as Congress intended when it provided the special allocations of credits to aid in their recovery from recent natural disasters.    » read more »

Offers Plan to Spur Housing Construction in Indiana Disaster Areas; Legislation would free up $230 million to create jobs, rebuild Hoosier communities devastated by floods

June 23, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh today proposed legislation that would make $230 million in funding immediately available to begin work on shovel-ready affordable housing developments in flood-ravaged areas of Indiana.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the Bayh legislation could create up to 1,728 new jobs in Indiana.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration's effort to create jobs and ease pressures on the housing market, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced $268 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to spur the development of affordable housing units in Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.

"Today's announcement of housing funds demonstrates how President Obama's Recovery Act is putting our nation on the path to economic stability, one community at a time," said Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin. "This initiative will help spur construction and development, create much needed jobs, and increase the availability of affordable housing for families around the country."    » read more »