In early January, HUD's Regional Director for New York and New Jersey, Sean Moss, joined Camden, NJ Mayor Gwendolyn Faison to announce the sale of HUD-owned single family properties in the Fairview neighborhood of the City. Also participating in the event were City Council President Angel Fuentes, HUD Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson, Marge Della Vecchia of the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, HUD Philadelphia Homeownership Center Director Engram Lloyd and representatives from private and nonprofit organizations. This was the second HUD Asset Control Area (ACA) agreement signed nationwide which gives preference to active duty military personnel and returning veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The ACA agreement allows Camden to acquire and renovate 107 HUD-owned, single-family properties in the historic neighborhood of Fairview Village, which the City is spending $40 million to rehabilitate.

Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison and HUD Regional Director Sean Moss at ceremonial signing of Camden ACA agreement.

The Fairview community was constructed after World War I to provide rental housing for workers at the New York Shipbuilding Company. Under the name of Yorkship Village, it was one of the nation's first planned communities, and was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1974. Under Camden's ACA Agreement, qualified military personnel will be offered fully renovated homes at an affordable price during a five-day preference period prior to the homes being offered to the general public.

From left, Paul Charbonneau of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Camden Mayor Faison, HUD Regional Director Moss, and William Devereaux of the NJ Department of Military And Veterans Affairs at announcement of agreement that will benefit recent veterans.

HUD Regional Director Moss said, "The agreement will not only create the American Dream for more Camden residents, but will also serve to strengthen and revitalize one of the City's most cherished and oldest communities. Further, we will be able to demonstrate our appreciation to U.S. military personnel and their families for their extraordinary service by offering them affordable homeownership opportunities."

Mayor Faison stated, "This is truly an indication that 'Camden is on the Move.' The agreement will provide opportunities for Camden families to realize their dreams of homeownership."