HUDLines Region IX News
Serving (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Pacific)

View the published version of the Newsletter with photos

• Note from the Regional Administrator
• HAMP Increased Home Equity as Housing Market Rebounds
• HUD Awards Over $92 Million to Preserve and Improve Public Housing
• HUD Program Funds Used for Affordable Housing Improvements in Fresno
• Section 8: Renewal Policy Guidebook Revisions Released by HUD

Note from the Regional Administrator
Ophelia B. Basgal

On March 18, I joined community leaders from all over the San Francisco Bay Area for the second day of the 100 Resilient Cities' two-day conference. The Rockefeller Foundation challenged cities around the world to build resilience into their community plans. Selected Region IX cities in 2013 are Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley and Los Angeles.

My remarks at the conference covered HUD's Sustainable Communities initiative that provides grants to improve regional and local planning efforts to integrate housing and transportation decisions. I also participated in a panel discussion on the benefits and challenges of regionalism in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The first day of the conference Mayors Ed Lee, San Francisco; Jean Quan, Oakland and Tom Bates, Berkeley, discussed regional concerns and activities, focusing on resilience in terms of effective disaster prevention and response.

California cities seek united front to counter earthquake and flood threats: The Guardian (www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/mar/19/californian-cities-san-francisco-threat-quake-flooding)

100 Resilient Cities website: The Rockefeller Foundation (http://100resilientcities.rockefellerfoundation.org/resilience)

HAMP Increased Home Equity as Housing Market Rebounds

The Home Affordability Modification Program (HAMP) helped to stabilize the housing market following the catastrophic housing foreclosure crisis. HAMP allows homeowners to modify their FHA-insured mortgages to reduce monthly mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure by reducing their interest rate or extending the term of their loan. The program is administered through HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the U.S. Treasury.

HAMP modifications continue to increase homeowners' equity: Yahoo Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-hamp-modifications-continue-increase-210012696.html)

HUD Awards Over $92 Million to Preserve and Improve Public Housing in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam

HUD announced $1.8 billion for the Fiscal Year 2014 Capital Fund for housing authorities to preserve and improve their public housing. The grants will help 3,100 public housing authorities, located in every state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, preserve and update the nation's public housing stock.

The nation continues to lose about 10,000 units of public housing annually, primarily due to disrepair. HUD Secretary Donovan reported to Congress that the nation's public housing has a backlog of $25.6 billion in large-scale repairs. This annual funding will help preserve and improve the housing stock.

HUD Awards Over $1.8 Billion for Public Housing: Apartment Finance Today (www.housingfinance.com/public-housing/hud-awards-18-billion-for-public-housing_o.aspx?dfpzone=news)

Arizona to receive $7.1 million to improve public housing: KTAR News (www.ktar.com/22/1715032/Arizona-to-receive-71M-to-improve-public-housing)

HUD awards $1.2 million to improve public housing on Guam.

HUD awards $69.7 million for public housing repairs in California: Central Valley Business Times (www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=25454)

Hawaii receives $1.9 million in federal funding for public housing: Civil Beat (www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=25454)

HUD Awards $1.8 billion to improve, preserve public housing: HUD News Release

HUD Program Funds Used for Affordable Housing Improvements in Fresno

The City of Fresno and the Fresno Housing Authority utilized $3 million from HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and $1.2 million from the HUD Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program for a total of $4.2 million to begin a transformation of the El Dorado Park neighborhood. The major rehabilitation project of the 32-unit San Ramon Apartments took four months and is part of a $40 million year-long effort to upgrade over 400 housing authority units.

Apartment rehab spruces up Fresno's 'Sin City': The Business Journal (www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/construction/11344-apartment-rehab-spruces-up-fresno-s-sin-city)

Fresno Housing Authority to start big renovation project.

Section 8: Renewal Policy Guidebook Revisions Released by HUD

HUD proposed revisions to the Section 8 Renewal Guide offers guidance for renewing expiring Section 8 contracts. Public comments that identify the section number, page, and paragraph number are due April 30. The 8-page transmittal memo contains a brief description of all major changes. And, the 226 pages comprising the proposed renewal guide feature asterisks (*) to indicate where changes have been made.

Section 8 Renewal Policy Guidebook—Comments due April 30: The Leading Edge (www.leadingage.org/HUD_Section_8_Renewal_Policy_Guidebook_Changes.aspx)

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