BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $37 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
An estimated 730,000 individuals and families to benefit from housing counseling - Florida Receives $759,388

MIAMI - Nearly 730,000 individuals and families will have a greater opportunity to find housing or keep the homes
they have because of more than $37 million in housing counseling grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez. Florida receives $759,388. See attached chart for Florida breakdown of grant recipients.

It is estimated these grants will assist more than 430,000 people to either become first-time homeowners or remain homeowners after their purchase. The grants were awarded to 17 national and regional organizations and approximately 350 state and local housing counseling agencies. These organizations will provide counseling services and will help meet the Bush Administration's goal of increasing minority homeownership by 5.5 million families by the end of the decade.

"These housing counseling grants are an important part of this Administration's goal to expand homeownership opportunities, particularly for minorities," said Martinez. "President Bush and I are committed to opening the doors
to the American Dream to more American families."

The 17 national and regional agencies distribute much of the HUD funding to community-based grassroots organizations that provide free advice and guidance to low- and moderate-income families seeking to improve their housing conditions. In addition, these larger organizations help improve the quality of housing counseling services
and enhance coordination among other counseling providers. Notably, 3 of the 17 intermediaries are faith-based, including 2 that are first time housing counseling grant recipients.

Of the $37.561 million in grants, $2.7 million is being awarded specifically to combat predatory lending, including awards to 4 national and regional intermediaries and 34 state and local organizations. Grantees will assist unwary borrowers in avoiding unreasonably high interest rates, inflated appraisals, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and even foreclosure.

Additionally, $2 million is being awarded specifically for counseling in conjunction with HUD's Section 8
Homeownership Voucher Program, which allows low-income individuals to use rental vouchers to purchase homes. Awards under this category are made to 4 national intermediaries and 35 state and local agencies. These grant recipients will help program participants realistically evaluate their readiness for a home purchase, understand their financing and down-payment options, and navigate what can be an extremely confusing and risky process.

President Bush is proposing to increase HUD's Housing Counseling grant program to $45 million next year - a 12.5 percent increase. The organizations that provide counseling services help people become or remain homeowners or find rental housing. In addition, HUD-funded housing counseling agencies assist homeless persons to find the transitional housing they need to move toward a permanent place to live.

Who benefits from housing counseling?

Based on past experience, HUD anticipates the counseling grants announced today will enable approximately
257,000 would-be homeowners to learn how to improve their credit, strengthen money management skills and avoid predatory lenders and other unscrupulous practices. Another 175,000 existing homeowners will learn how to avoid delinquency and default, restructure debt and maintain their home. In addition, nearly 213,000 individuals and
families who will receive HUD-funded counseling are renters. Counseling services will help them find housing closer
to their jobs or health care as well as teach them about tenant rights. Finally, an estimated 16,000 homeless individuals and families will learn how to find emergency services and secure transitional housing.

HUD awards annual grants under this program through a competitive process. Organizations that apply for grants
must be HUD-approved and are subject to biannual performance reviews to maintain their HUD-approved status.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as
enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.

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The following key corresponds to grant type:

CC= Comprehensive Housing Counseling
PL = Predatory Lending
S8 = Counseling in Conjunction with HUD's Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program
CO = Colonias

To view national, state- by- state, and detailed individual grant summaries visit HUD's website.

Florida

Ocala Housing Authority
Ocala, FL
$35,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
The Ocala Housing Authority is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide safe, affordable and decent housing for the residents of Marion County. The agency has been serving the City of Ocala, Marion County, for more than three decades as a housing services provider. Services include homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention counseling, advocacy and technical assistance as it pertains to homeownership. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 2,565 clients with issues pertaining to housing.

Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
$30,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium, Inc. was founded in 1993. Their primary mission is providing homeownership opportunities. They have been a leader in providing comprehensive home buyer education, pre-purchase counseling, down payment and closing cost assistance to low to moderate income families of the City of Tallahassee and Leon County. TLC has also partnered with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to provide education to consumers about reverse mortgages. During fiscal year 2002, TLC successfully counseled 1032 clients resulting in
119 clients purchasing housing.

Tallahassee Urban League, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
$38,203 - Comprehensive Counseling
The Tallahassee Urban League, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization established in Tallahassee in 1969 to serve the needs of minorities and low-income citizens. The agency has operated a Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program and has been a HUD Certified Counseling Agency since 1978. It has assisted more than 24,000 clients since that time. Tallahassee Urban League serves Leon County and the surrounding counties of Gadsden, Jefferson,
Madison and some parts of South Georgia. Housing counseling services currently offered by the agency include: homebuyer education workshops, default/delinquency counseling, pre-purchase, post-occupancy, reverse equity mortgage, Fair Housing and landlord/tenant conflict resolution counseling. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 407 clients with housing related issues.

Community Enterprise Investments, Inc
Pensacola, FL
$23,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
Incorporated in 1974, Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. is a nonprofit agency serving Escambia County,
Florida. The agency's Homeownership Program was initiated five years ago to provide affordable housing and homeownership training and counseling to low and moderate-income families. The Housing Counseling Program is in direct response to the Escambia Consortium, Florida Five-Year Consolidated Plan. Based on current activity, the organization expects to hold approximately 20 housing workshops and provide individual counseling to more than 200 clients this year. During fiscal year 2002, the agency counseled 145 families regarding the homebuying process.

Greater Ocala Community Development Corporation
Ocala, FL
$15,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
Greater Ocala Community Development Corporation (GO CDC) is a non-profit organization formed in 1994. They originated from the Marion County Branch of the NAACP-Labor and Industry Committee. Counseling services include Pre-purchase, Credit and Budgeting, Pre and Post Home Buyer Classes, Rental and Default/Foreclosure Counseling. Services are offered in fifteen (15) zip code areas in and around Ocala. With the assistance of GO CDC, twelve (12) counseling clients purchased housing within the past year. Greater Ocala CDC plans to continue and expand partnerships with several other organizations including Consumer Credit Counseling of Mid Florida (debt management, budget counseling), City of Ocala and the Marion County SHIP Housing Program (down payment assistance, closing and rehab counseling) and the Ocala Housing Authority (services to clients eligible for Section 8 and the Homebuyer Program). GO CDC is also involved in the construction of a planned development of 173 units of affordable housing (construction to begin in 2004).

Central Florida Community Development Corp.
Daytona Beach, FL
$25,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
The Central Florida Community Development Corporation (CFCDC) is a nonprofit community based organization
founded in 1982, providing services to the citizens of Volusia and Brevard Counties. CFCDC provides housing counseling including pre-purchase, credit, loss mitigation, mortgage default, homebuyer education, and post
purchase counseling to its clients. During fiscal year 2002, CFCDC successfully counseled 405 individuals with
housing related issues.

Mid-Florida Housing Partnership, Inc.
Daytona Beach, FL
$37,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
Mid-Florida Housing Partnership provides a wide array of counseling services in Volusia and Flagler Counties. The Partnership has been operating in this capacity for over eight years, and coordinates its activities with other
agencies to meet the needs of many in their service area. The agency offers multiple delivery methods for its services, which are also available in different languages, and all three offices are centrally located. Currently, the agency is offering the following types of housing counseling to residents in their service area: pre-qualification, pre-purchase, post-purchase, reverse equity mortgage, money management and default counseling. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 1047 clients resulting in over 69 clients purchasing homes.

Family Counseling Center of Brevard, Inc.
Rockledge, FL
$39,960 - Comprehensive Counseling
Family Counseling Center (FCC), parent agency of Consumer Credit Counseling Service was established in 1964 and
is the oldest family service in the area. Their mission is to strengthen individuals, families and communities in Brevard and Indian River Counties. FCC provides comprehensive housing counseling which includes pre/post purchase counseling, mortgage and rental default counseling, reverse mortgage seminars, fair housing information, consumer credit counseling, substance abuse therapy, and other social related services. Retaining ownership is one of FCC's highest priorities in their housing counseling plan. Family Counseling Center counseled over 300 clients in fiscal year 2002.

The Center for Affordable Housing, Inc.
Sanford, FL
$33,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
The Center for Affordable Housing has been operating housing developments and assistance programs in Seminole County and Orange County for twenty years. They were successful in the recruitment and qualification of 140 first-time homebuyers. The homebuyers were provided with an opportunity to share in the development of their homes under the USDA Self-Help Housing Program. This includes pre-qualification to post purchase counseling and
foreclosure prevention. TCFAH provides full service housing counseling assistance to low-income residents of in their selected service area. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 933 clients resulting in 30 clients purchasing a home.

GoldenRule Housing & Community Development Corp.
Sanford, FL
$58,091 - Comprehensive Counseling
GoldenRule Housing & Community Development Corp. was incorporated in April 1991.
They provide a host of housing services, which includes comprehensive housing counseling, pre/post purchase counseling, foreclosure prevention and financial literacy. Their clientele are from the Seminole County area, and services are catered to the very low through low -income residents. Many of their clients come from farm labor
and subsidized rental housing. Because there is a high rate of foreclosure in the area, heavy focus is placed on foreclosure prevention in the workshops and counseling sessions. During fiscal year 2002, GoldenRule successfully counseled 1,262 clients on issues pertaining to housing.

Homes In Partnership, Inc.
Apopka, FL
$43,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
Homes In Partnership, Inc. has been providing and facilitating affordable housing for Central Florida residents in
the very low to moderate-income range for the past twenty-five years. The organization partners with many community-based organizations to help low income and underserved minorities in the community. Notably, Homes In Partnership received special recognition from Rural Housing Services for being the only nationwide self-help housing provider meeting their goal of providing post purchase counseling services to occupants qualified for homeownership. The agency has received consecutive grants from Rural Housing Services for twenty-five years to provide technical assistance to families interested in building their homes through the self-help program. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 759 clients resulting in 97 clients purchasing housing.

Housing and Neighborhood Development Services of Central Florida, Inc.
Orlando, FL
$48,147 - Comprehensive Counseling
Housing and Neighborhood Development Services of Central Florida, Inc. (HANDS) is a private nonprofit affordable housing agency incorporated in July l989. HANDS serve the Florida Counties of Orlando, Orange, Osceola and Seminole. The organization has provided comprehensive housing counseling and information and referral services to over 48,000 families since it's inception. Housing counseling services currently offered by the agency to low-income individuals include: home buyer education, credit repair, pre-qualification, budgeting, and default prevention. During fiscal year 2002, HANDS successfully counseled 3,808 clients.

Community Housing Initiative, Inc.
Melbourne, FL
$18,870 - Comprehensive Counseling
Community Housing Initiative, Inc. (C.H.I.) has been established since 1992. They are dedicated to assisting in
the provision of affordable housing to the residents of the community. C.H.I. administers the City of Melbourne's Purchase Assistance Program, which assists very low and low-income homebuyers, and the City of Palm Bay's Down Payment Assistance Program; both of which assist with down payments, closing costs and rehabilitation funds. Housing counseling services currently offered by the agency include: homebuyer education, mortgage default prevention, pre-purchase, post-occupancy, and Fair Housing education. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 102 clients.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of The Florida Gulf Coast, Incorporated
Tampa, FL
$87,100 - Comprehensive Counseling
CCCS of the Florida Gulf Coast was formed over 25 years ago as a nonprofit organization to provide financial counseling and education. CCCS has 16 offices located throughout its five-county service area. It is committed to providing the best professional consumer credit education, confidential financial counseling and debt reduction programs to all segments of those communities. Programs offered by the agency include: pre-occupancy, pre-purchase, post purchase, rent delinquency, post occupancy, displacement/relocation counseling, and reverse mortgage counseling. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 5,499 clients with issues
pertaining to housing, resulting in 326 new homeowners.

Manatee Opportunity Council, Inc.
Bradenton, FL
$43,240- Comprehensive Counseling
Manatee Opportunity Council, Inc., a private nonprofit, has been a HUD-certified Housing Counseling Agency since
the early 1970's, providing services on behalf of indigent, low-income individuals and families since 1968. It serves Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, DeSota and Hardee Counties, and is also the case management agency for the HUD funded Manasota Homeless Project, serving Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Housing counseling services
offered by the agency include: pre-purchase, post-purchase, mortgage default, foreclosure prevention, and rental counseling. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 529 clients with issues related to housing.

Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc.
Sarasota, FL
$40,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
The Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc., provides housing counseling services to the citizens of Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee and Desoto Counties. They have served the area for the past 25 years. Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc., provides one-on-one counseling in homebuyer education, mortgage default/loss mitigation, post purchase, rental assistance, money management, fair housing, and homeless counseling. In addition to housing counseling, Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc., makes available to each customer, as needed, resources including, but not limited to,
food pantry and clothing referrals, job placement services, and transportation services. During fiscal year 2002, Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc., successfully counseled 174 clients with issues pertaining to housing.

Manatee Coalition For Affordable Housing, Inc.
Bradenton, FL
$18,315- Comprehensive Counseling
Manatee Coalition for Affordable Housing, Inc. has been providing homeownership education since its inception in 1991. It has a solid track record of helping very low and low-income families to become homeowners. The agency's housing counseling services include homebuyer education, pre and post-purchase counseling, and marketing and outreach initiatives. Additionally, Manatee is a member of the Ward 5 Quality Assurance Team that is made up of community nonprofit agencies whose mission is to establish a forum through which information about local
community needs can be discussed and exchanged. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled
532 clients resulting in 54 clients purchasing housing.

Miami Beach Community Development Corporation
Miami Beach, FL
$38,203 - Comprehensive Counseling
Miami Beach CDC has been providing housing counseling to clients for over 12 years. During that time they have managed Federal, State and Local funds in order to provide a high level of service to the Miami-Dade County residents. Its housing counseling mission is to promote and develop housing opportunities through education and counseling. Miami Beach CDC employs multiple outreach efforts to provide consumer education in both confidential
and group counseling sessions. Counseling services offered by the agency include: homebuyer education classes, budgeting, credit repair and home maintenance counseling. During fiscal year 2002, the agency counseled 313
clients with issues pertaining to housing.

Haven Economic Development, Inc.
Davis, FL
$35,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
Home Economic Development, Inc. (HEDI) provides services for the City of Miami, Dade County, and Broward
County, Florida. HEDI counseled 173 clients in fiscal year 2002. Thirty-six clients purchased a home; ninety-two
(92) individuals received pre purchase counseling and are working towards becoming mortgage ready. Two-thirds
of all clients counseled received both group and one-on-one counseling. Due to the predominant Spanish population
in South Florida, housing counseling is provided in both English & Spanish. HEDI offers a number of programs that foster the development of affordable homeownership, including acquisition and rehabilitation of unoccupied HUD homes, and Homebuyer Education and Homeownership counseling. HEDI's programs help meet the critical housing needs of very low, low, and moderate income clients including special needs persons such as the elderly, physically and mentally handicapped, minorities, and families with limited English proficiency. Counseling services provided are: homebuyer education classes, pre purchase, mortgage default/delinquency, and post purchase.

West Perrine Community Development Corporation
Miami, FL
$28,259 - Comprehensive Counseling
The West Perrine Community Development Corporation's Housing Opportunity Center has an experienced and well-trained staff with over twenty years of housing counseling experience. Since opening their doors to the public in December 1994, this agency has served over 2400 households in pre-purchase counseling, mortgage default and foreclosure prevention. Its goal is to provide a total-quality comprehensive counseling service to the residents in
order to enable them to achieve decent and affordable housing. During fiscal year 2002, the agency successfully counseled 205 clients resulting in 30 clients purchasing housing.