Secretary Martinez last month visited Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood to celebrate National Homeownership Month and a local public-private partnership that will help low-income families achieve the homeownership dream.

Joined by representatives of the partnership, Secretary Martinez and Freddie Mac Chairman/CEO Leland Brendsel presented a "welcome mat" to Crystal Mack, who represented all of the potential homeowners using the "Choose to Own" program. Through the "Choose to Own" program, Chicago Housing Authority families, who are assisted by the Housing Choice Voucher program, will use their Section 8 rent subsidy to cover mortgage payments.

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have agreed to purchase the mortgages, ensuring a constant flow of mortgage credit that will help additional families become homeowners.

Harris Bank, Mid-America Bank, Citibank and ShoreBank have committed to make conventional, 30-year fixed rate mortgage loans to qualified families.

The Spanish Coalition for Housing, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, the Latinos United Community Housing Association and the Rogers Park Community Development Corporation are providing the borrower counseling.

 Back to Top  

Secretary Martinez also visited Tucson to acknowledge a new Freddie Mac initiative and to announce other Bush Administration initiatives that will increase affordable housing. The event was held at Sunland Vista Estates, a 65-unit subdivision, built and developed by United Housing, a nonprofit builder/developer.

A large audience in Tucson hears the Secretary discuss the importance of homeownership in strengthening communities.

Sunland Vista is located in a heavily Hispanic area of Tucson and is the result of a cooperative effort by HUD, Freddie Mac, United Housing, and Chicanos por la Causa, a HUD approved housing counseling agency. Homeowners in the subdivision have benefited from down payment assistance through HOME funds as well as housing counseling funds.

More than two hundred people gathered at a model home to hear the Secretary. Freddie Mac's Leland Brendsel also joined him in Tucson. The opening blessing was offered by Daniel Preston of the Tohono O'Odham Nation. Other speakers included Richard Elias, Pima County Supervisor; Dr. Sheila Harris, Director, Governor's Office of Housing Development; James Stavenger, VP, Regional Retail Sales, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; Gary Acosta, CEO and VP, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals; and Lorraine Lee, VP, Chicanos por la Causa.