The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has taken an active role in helping our nation recover following the events of September 11, 2001. This includes quick action to protect families of the victims - including those whose economic livelihoods were directly affected - from losing their homes.

The Department has put together helpful Questions and Answers for families and also for mortgage lenders.� The relief options for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loans described in the following links refer to any FHA-insured homeowner affected by the events of September 11 .

• Questions and Answers for FHA-Insured Homeowners
• Questions and Answers for Lenders

In addition, Secretary Martinez has worked with Defense Secretary�Rumsfeld to invoke The Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act of 1940, which provides mortgage relief for all reservists and National Guard members called to active duty, whether or not their mortgage is insured by FHA.�

• Soldiers & Sailors Act - Q & A for Homeowners
• Soldiers & Sailors Act - Q & A for Lenders

HUD also has activated a toll-free number for servicemen and women with questions concerning their mortgage.� For more information, call 1-888-297-8685 weekdays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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Like many states, Rhode Island has a shortfall of affordable housing. To help solve the problem. HUD's Rhode Island State Office reached out earlier this year to faith-based organizations and other non-profit groups, cities and towns, apartment owners and rental agents, advocacy and resident organizations, homeless providers, housing development consultants and many others.

HUD programs and staff can provide significant financial and technical assistance in expanding affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. Taking advantage of these strengths, Rhode Island HUD staff put together a focused, one-day symposium to energize and support the State's "hands-on" affordable housing groups and individuals and help them make full use of the broad range of HUD programs. The goal - shared by HUD staff and every attendee - was to move quickly to increase affordable housing production and maintain valuable existing resources throughout the State.

One of the most eagerly discussed topics was HUD's Section 8 Homeownership program - with insight coming from agencies now using the program to help low income families become homeowners. Moderated by HUD staff member Noah Dorius, panelists throughout the course of the workshop included Michael Dziok, HUD Senior Housing Program Specialist, Kathleen Lima and Marlene Piekarsky, HUD Public Housing Revitalization Specialists, Erin Quinlan and Julie Leddy, from the Coventry Housing Authority and Joann Ryan, Rhode Island and Mortgage Finance Corporation.

Each of HUD's program disciplines was part of the picture, and were integrated into practical scenarios for local success: from Section 8 Vouchers, Section 8 Homeownership, Lead Safe Housing, Overcoming Environmental Challenges, Supportive Services in Multifamily Housing, to Taking Advantage of HUD Information Technology.

Deborah Hall, Web Manager for the Rhode Island State Office, provides an overview of available Internet- based HUD resources. Other presenters included HUD's Janet Cayouette, who explained the value of HUD Clips, and Sharon Keefe who showed the utility of on-line systems such as HUD Maps.