Housing

Bill Gives Communities Flexible Financing Options in Recovering from the 2008 Disasters

May 12, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today signed into law Senate File 457, a bill which gives cities and counties facing disaster-recovery efforts additional financing options.

"Today, we take another step forward in our state's disaster recovery efforts," said Governor Culver. "With so many communities still working to recover from last year's historic natural disasters, now communities have a new tool to meet our ongoing challenges. As Governor, I will continue to do everything I can to rebuild our communities, and I look forward to working with all Iowans to build a stronger, safer future."    » read more »

Mortgage Reform will save consumers an average of $700; HUD withdraws 'required use' definition after review of 1,200 public comments

May 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced his intention to implement the mortgage reforms under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) that are scheduled to take full effect on January 1, 2010. For the first time in more than 30 years, HUD is updating mortgage rules to help consumers shop for the lowest cost mortgage, avoid costly and potentially harmful loan offers, and save an average of $700.    » read more »

Grants will help the elderly and disabled, boost energy efficiency and create jobs

May 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan today announced that HUD is offering nearly $1 billion to make substantial improvements to thousands of public housing units nationwide.

The Public Housing Capital Funds being offered today are provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and are designed to help selected public housing authorities improve the quality of their housing stock, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Monday, May 11, 2009 — One year after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake killed more than 69,000 people and destroyed an estimated 5 million houses in southwest China, communities are filled with the signs and sounds of recovery. The focus has shifted from putting up prefabricated, transitional shelters and distributing relief items to constructing more permanent, earthquake-resistant homes and helping people work through their emotional trauma.

"The pace of recovery is remarkable, with tens of thousands of houses that the Red Cross is supporting under construction or complete," says David Meltzer, Senior Vice President of International Services for the American Red Cross.    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that the Housing Authority of Bowling Green (HABG) has been awarded $2,032,551 from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to help low-income families and individuals purchase homes that have been foreclosed and abandoned in the wake of the country’s economic crisis.

“Vacant housing can have a very negative impact on neighborhoods by inviting crime and blight and bringing down surrounding property values,” said Gov. Beshear. “The Housing Authority of Bowling Green’s plan will benefit communities by returning vacant lots to productive use while providing new opportunities for homeownership to deserving families.”    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue today signed House Bill 261, which provides a $1,800 tax credit for home purchases. The credit, which would be taken over three years, takes effect immediately and is meant to spur activity in the housing market.

“The housing tax credit is a strategic investment that strikes at the root of this economic downturn. Much of the financial turmoil we have seen stems from a severe downturn in housing,” Governor Perdue said. “Families interested in buying a home will now have an additional incentive to act.”    » read more »

Funding renews critical lifeline for hundreds of persons at risk for homelessness

May 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Seven local programs that offer critically needed housing and support services to extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS are being awarded $8 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These grants will help hundreds of persons and their families struggling to find a stable home as they receive the services they need to manage their illnesses.    » read more »

May 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today unveiled the Department's fiscal year 2010 budget, which focuses on responsibility, effectiveness and transparency. The proposed 2010 budget exercises strong fiscal discipline, consolidating or eliminating 27 programs and activities, and investing in initiatives to increase transparency and accountability.    » read more »

CDBG funding designed to build critical infrastructure and create jobs

May 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - In an effort to stimulate community development and job growth, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today allocated $1 billion in funding to nearly 1,200 state and local governments through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). These grants will be provided through HUD's long-standing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and will primarily benefit low- to moderate-income persons living in these communities.    » read more »

Grants Will Increase Jobs, Provide Boost to Local Housing Economies

May 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – As part of an innovative partnership aimed at job creation and easing the pressures on the housing market, the Department of the Treasury and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today jointly announced programs that will provide billions of dollars in recovery funds to spur the development of thousands of affordable housing units in states around the country.

Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (The Recovery Act), the programs together will provide approximately $5 billion for states to finance the acquisition and construction of affordable housing for working families.    » read more »

Latest series of “Opportunity Knocks’’ homebuyer fairs will be held at 10 shopping malls across the state on May 2 and May 9

BOSTON – April 24, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced today that the latest series of free “Opportunity Knocks’’ regional homebuyer fairs and open houses to promote affordable homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts will held on Saturday, May 2, and Saturday, May 9, at 10 shopping malls across Massachusetts.    » read more »

Housing Tax Credits Awarded to Projects in Three Iowa Communities

April 8, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced today that the state of Iowa will award more than $40 million in Housing Tax Credits to finance the construction of new affordable housing in Davenport, Des Moines and Waterloo.

“These awards mean that up to 257 Iowa families and individuals will have access to safe, decent and affordable housing in our state,” Governor Culver said. “What’s more, these awards will enable the construction of two new buildings and the rehabilitation of two more, generating and supporting good jobs. I congratulate the developers of these projects and I thank them for their efforts to create new housing and new employment opportunities in our state.”    » read more »

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary Tom Vilsack to Focus on Rural Healthcare Clinics, Fire Stations and Funding for Housing

Washington, DC, March 30, 2009 – Vice President Joe Biden and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday, April 1st to highlight how the Recovery Act is helping rural America.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan released the following statement today in response to new data suggesting improvements in the housing market. Today, the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD announced an increase in residential home sales in February 2009.

"This week we have seen some encouraging news on housing. Sales of both new and existing homes rose in February for the first time in more than six months while home prices are starting to stabilize.    » read more »

Public housing agencies across U.S. are saving energy using ENERGY STAR products, practices

March 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will receive special recognition for promoting the use of energy efficient appliances in public housing units and encouraging public housing authorities across the country to follow "green" building standards.

On March 31st, HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing will be presented with an ENERGY STAR Special Recognition Award at a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C. for its commitment and dedication to furthering the ENERGY STAR program, which encourages energy conservation.    » read more »