HUD

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.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today sent a letter to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Brian Montgomery, urging him to reconsider his recommendation that Congress reduce FHA loan limits from $729,750 to $550,000.

Boxer pointed out that the lower loan limits would reduce access to affordable loans to residents of 99 high cost counties across 18 states and the District of Columbia, including 23 counties in California alone.

The text of the letter follows:

June 12, 2008
The Honorable Brian Montgomery
Commissioner
Federal Housing Administration

Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20410

Dear Commissioner Montgomery:    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is providing $6.2 million in financial assistance for five affordable housing projects across Connecticut.

“Increasing affordable housing options is always a priority, and that is especially true as we work to keep and grow jobs during a national economic slowdown,” Governor Rell said. “Making housing affordable revitalizes our downtowns and transforms neighborhoods into tightly knit communities. It also helps our elderly residents remain independent while giving other residents a helping hand in starting or maintaining their working and family lives.    » read more »

$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide; $9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans

April 16, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.

A homeless veteran in New York City: Photo by Jonathan Greenwald (CC)    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- “After hearing multiple appeals seeking additional time for the City of Syracuse City to continue their search for a developer capable of rehabilitating the ElJay apartments, HUD instead chose to dive head first into the auction process. Today, HUD proceeded with their ill-advised auction which was wholly unsuccessful, and failed to attract a single bidder.

Syracuse skyline: Photo by Taku (CC)    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama released the following statement this morning on the resignation of HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson:

"Secretary Jackson's resignation amid a housing crisis and charges of cronyism serves as a stark reminder of what's at stake in this election. It's harder than ever for working families to achieve the American Dream, and that's why we need a president who will cut ties with the special interests so that we can implement a plan that provides real relief to homeowners and prevents the lobbyists from writing the laws that regulate them.    » read more »

3/31/2008 -- "Secretary Jackson's resignation ends a tenure at HUD marked by an indifference to Congressional oversight powers, cronyism, and corrupt contracting practices that have no place in our government. Yet while Secretary Jackson’s resignation is appropriate, it does nothing to address the Bush Administration's wait-and-don't-see posture to our nation's housing crisis, which is threatening to drive our economy into a painful recession.    » read more »

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Announces He Will Resign April 18th, 2008

Washington, D.C. -- March 31, 2008 - Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) issued the following statement concerning the resignation of Secretary Alphonso Jackson from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I did not call for Secretary Jackson’s resignation, but since he decided to do so I think it maybe helpful in getting the $40 million released to provide more housing for the poor people of Philadelphia”

“The need for new leadership in the Department is especially urgent for the sake of the people that rely on public housing.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the resignation of Alphonso Jackson as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

“The resignation of HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson comes at a time when millions of American families are facing the prospect of losing their homes.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- "Today, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson announced his decision to leave the Department after seven years of dedicated service. I have known Alphonso Jackson for many years, and I have known him to be a strong leader and a good man. I have accepted his resignation with regret.

Secretary Jackson is a great American success story. The youngest of twelve children - his father was a foundry worker and his mother was a nurse mid-wife - Alphonso has always understood the value of hard work and equal opportunity for all Americans.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) says Mississippi has implemented sound controls regarding how the state determines eligibility and avoids benefit duplication while administering its Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP), and the agency recommends no changes.

Mississippi homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina

The finding is based on an OIG audit of the program using a sample of homeowners who applied October 2006, just months after the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) began processing HAP applications.    » read more »

HUD provides New Orleans $2.3 million more than 2007 to support housing and development programs

NEW ORLEANS, March 17, 2008 - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today announced the City of New Orleans will receive more than $27 million to support community development and produce more affordable housing in the Big Easy. HUD's annual funding will also provide downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers; assist individuals and families who might otherwise be living on the streets; and offer real housing solutions for individuals with HIV/AIDS.    » read more »

Letter sent to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

March 14, 2008 - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) today sent a letter to Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) urging him to extend Philadelphia’s Moving-To-Work (MTW) agreement for one year. Moving-To-Work has allowed innovative approaches to provide housing to low-income families. The current program is set to expire on March 31, 2008.    » read more »

Requests meeting after HUD refuses to answer questions

March 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC-Following up on his questioning of HUD Secretary Alfonso Jackson at today’s Senate Banking Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to Secretary Jackson requesting a meeting and answers to the questions that Secretary Jackson dodged at today’s hearing. Secretary Jackson refused to answer Senator Casey’s questions concerning emails sent by high-ranking HUD officials that suggest retaliation against the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA).    » read more »

February 26, 2008, WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today announced that HUD's FHASecure product has helped 100,000 homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure. Since September 2007, FHASecure has enabled tens of thousands of families - who are current on their home loans or past due because their teaser rates reset - to close on loans refinanced through HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is backed by the full faith and credit of the government.

The following is a statement by Secretary Alphonso Jackson:    » read more »