HUD Secretary Visits Tucson, Arizona

During National Homeownership Month, the HUD Secretary at that time, Mel Martinez, visited Tucson on June 19th, 2002, to acknowledge a new Freddie Mac initiative.

During National Homeownership Month, the HUD Secretary at that time, Mel Martinez, visited Tucson on June 19th, 2002, 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.

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 housing counseling funds.

More than two hundred people gathered at a model home to hear the Secretary. Leland C. Brendsel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Freddie Mac, joined him. The opening blessing was offered by Daniel Preston of the Tohono O'Odham Nation. Other guest 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.