BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $44.1 MILLION IN HOUSING COUNSELING GRANTS TO NEARLY 400 NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
$756,000 awarded to Florida counseling agencies

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Approximately 700,000 families will have a greater opportunity to find housing or keep the
homes they have because of more than $44 million in housing counseling and counseling training grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson.

Housing counseling grants will assist families in becoming first-time homeowners and remaining homeowners after
their purchase. Renters and homeless individuals and families will also benefit from the counseling offered by the grants. These grants, totaling over $41 million, were awarded to 19 national and regional organizations and nearly
370 state and local housing counseling agencies.

Housing counseling training grants will help approximately 2,600 counselors receive the instruction and certification necessary to effectively assist families with their housing needs. These grants, totaling $3 million, were awarded to two national organizations.

"This Administration strongly believes in the value of housing counseling services," said Jackson. "These
organizations help families make informed choices before they take the important step of homeownership. They also provide a service that is vital in today's mortgage market - they counsel families facing foreclosure and advise them about their options."

National and regional agencies distribute much of HUD's housing counseling grant funding to community-based grassroots organizations that provide 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.

Of the more than $41 million in housing counseling grants, $3 million is being awarded in supplemental funding for
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) counseling. These funds will provide counseling for the rapidly growing number of elderly homeowners who seek to convert equity in their homes into income that can be used to pay for home improvements, medical costs, and other living expenses.

The organizations that provide housing counseling services help people become or remain homeowners or find rental housing, and assist homeless persons in finding the transitional housing they need to move toward a permanent
place to live. Grant recipients also help homebuyers and homeowners realistically evaluate their readiness for a home purchase, understand their financing and downpayment options, and navigate what can be an extremely confusing and difficult process.

In addition, grantees help combat predatory lending by helping unwary borrowers avoid 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. Likewise, foreclosure prevention counseling helps homeowners facing delinquency or default employ strategies, including expense reduction, negotiation with lenders and loan servicers,
and loss mitigation, to avoid foreclosure. With foreclosures on the rise nationwide, these services are more
important than ever.

HUD awards annual grants under the housing counseling program through a competitive process. Organizations that apply for grants must be HUD-approved and are subject to biennial 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; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development, and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
and espanol.hud.gov.

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Note to editors:

• State-by-state breakdown of grant recipients is available on the HUD website.
• Detailed individual grant summaries are available on the HUD website.

For More information contact Matthew Stewart at (904) 208-6034

FLORIDA

Central Florida Community Development Corporation
Daytona Beach, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$34,461.63

Central Florida Community Development Corporation (CFCDC) is a nonprofit corporation which provides a wide variety of housing counseling services including: homeownership education, pre- and post-purchase counseling, rental counseling, delinquency/default counseling, financial literacy workshops, and budgeting assistance. CFCDC is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency and a State of Florida Community Housing Development Organization. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, CFCDC assisted 742 clients with their housing needs.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Florida
Pensacola, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$45,307.86

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Florida, (CCCS) is a HUD-approved counseling agency, whose main
office is located in, Pensacola. CCCS offers free pre-purchase home buyer classes, and free individual housing counseling to help participants realistically evaluate their readiness for a home purchase, understand their financing and down payment options, and navigate the confusing and difficult process of home buying and home retention
once purchased. With the 2006-07 grant award the agency served 2,499 clients through individual and group
sessions on home-buying education, HECM counseling, rental assistance and default counseling.

Credit Card Management Services, Inc.
West Palm Beach, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$41,692.45

Credit Card Management Services, Inc. (CCMS) provides housing counseling services including Homebuyer
Education, Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Counseling, Delinquency/Default, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)
and Fair Housing Counseling. CCMS also promotes outreach to community and faith-based organizations, churches, support groups, and lawyers to help clients when needed. During the 2005-2006 Grant Period, they provided
services to 96 clients. Of that number, thirty-two completed Homebuyer Education Workshops, and 13 clients obtained a HECM Mortgage.

Family Counseling Center of Brevard , Inc.
Rockledge, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$45,307.86

Family Counseling Center (FCC), parent agency of Consumer Credit Counseling Service was established in 1964 and
is the oldest family service agency in the area. Our mission is to strengthen individuals, families and communities in Brevard and Indian River Counties. FCC provides outpatient counseling, consumer credit counseling, substance
abuse therapy, education and related services to individuals and families. CCCS provides a complete range of
housing counseling including default, pre-purchase, rental and HECM counseling. FCC provided housing counseling
to 500 clients during FY05-06.

Goodwill Industries Manasota, Inc.
Sarasota, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$41,692.45

Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc. was established over 26 years ago and has served the residents of Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee and DeSoto Counties ever since. Goodwill, a private-not-for profit human service organization, provides information and referral, case management, neighborhood resource development, job placement, housing
and assistance with homeownership. Current housing programs include the HomeBuyer's Club, a long-term case management program which seeks to assist very low, low- and moderate income families become first time homeowners; GoodPartner Coach Program, a case management program designed to assist individuals with any
issues they may have regarding employment, housing and/or relationships; and GoodHomes, which utilizes
SHIP/HOME funds. During the 2005-2006 Grant Period, the agency provided housing counseling services to 838 clients.

Haven Economic Development, Inc.
Davie, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$34,461.63

Haven Economic Development, Inc. (HEDI) was established on June 22, 1998 and currently operates in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Haven is currently expanding its operation into Collier County in 2007. Our mission is to
provide very low- to moderate-income individuals and families with quality affordable housing, and to create positive economic development in neighborhoods under distress. Our services include financial and credit counseling, assistance in credit repair and homebuyers education in cooperation with other non-profit and for-profit
organizations. (HEDI) provided housing counseling to 253 clients in FY05-06.

Homes In Partnership, Inc.
Apopka, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$30,846.23

Homes In Partnership, Inc.'s (HIP) mission is to provide low-income families with safe, decent, affordable housing
and to improve economic conditions within the service community. Since 1975, HIP has provided over 3,500 families
in Orange, Lake, and Sumter counties with single-family housing through their Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.
Each home buyer receives a series of pre-purchase counseling classes, workshops, and post-purchase counseling classes. Workshops and seminars are conducted in group settings as well. HIP provided housing counseling to 569 clients during FY05-06.

The Housing Corporation
Port Charlotte, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$23,615.41

The Housing Corporation of Charlotte County administers the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program
and the Homeowner Rehabilitation and Down Payment Assistance Program for Charlotte County. Both programs
provide state funds to help low income households rehabilitate their homes and become homeowners. The Consumer Services Division of the Housing Corporation delivers homeownership programs, homebuyer training workshops, educational workshops, and counseling activities required by certain government programs and financial institutions. The Corporation provides delinquency/default counseling and predatory lending counseling. During the 2005-2006 Grant Period the agency counseled 685 clients.

Housing Partnership, Inc.
Riviera Beach, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$27,230.82

Housing Partnership, Inc. (HP) is a not for profit, charitable corporation with several designations and affiliations, including being a chartered affiliate of the national NeighborWorks America. Since its inception in 1986, Housing Partnership, Inc. (HP) has focused on improving communities through a more holistic approach to housing and
human services. In addition to its continuing involvement in the promotion of homeownership, HP has crafted quality programming and resources in supportive housing for special needs populations and in family services. Serving all of Palm Beach County, HP proposes to provide community outreach, pre-purchase counseling, homebuyer education, delinquency/default counseling, post-purchase education, and voucher homeownership counseling.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Inc.
Jacksonville, FL.
Comprehensive Counseling
$34,461.63

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Inc. (JALA), established in 1976, is a not for profit agency providing civil legal assistance to low income persons in need of private legal assistance. JALA's mission is to obtain and provide high quality legal assistance to low income and other special needs groups and to stimulate and empower groups of poor people to accomplish energetic and affirmative advocacy. JALA provided counseling to 1,541 clients during FY05-06 seeking homebuyer education, predatory lending and HECM counseling.

Manatee Opportunity Council
Bradenton, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$42,000.00

The Manatee Opportunity Council (MOC) is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency which has been providing services in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Hardee, Lee and Desoto counties since the early 1970s. The agency
offers assistance via delinquency/default, HECM, homeless and rental counseling. The agency served over 200
clients with these services and projects increasing that number 200% with the current grant year funding.

Miami-Dade Affordable Housing Foundation
Miami, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$20,000.00

The Miami-Dade Affordable Housing Foundation (AFH) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization created in 1999 to
assist low and moderate-income families in their ability to attain homeownership. The agency's assistance includes pre- and post purchase classes, homebuyer's education, delinquency and default counseling, and predatory lending courses. With the HUD grant funding, the agency anticipates serving 1,200 clients throughout Miami-Dade County. During the 2006-07 fiscal year, AFH provided services to 506 clients needing assistance with their housing needs.

Mid-Florida Housing Partnership, Inc.
Daytona Beach, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$45,307.86

Mid-Florida Housing Partnership, Inc (MFHP) was formed in 1989 as a Florida Corporation addressing the needs of decent, affordable housing for very low and low income households. MFHP is contracted by the City of Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Flagler County, and the City of Port Orange, providing housing counseling services and down payment assistance. MFHP assisted over 1,386 households in the purchase of a single family home by the end of
April, 2007. As a qualified CHDO in the state of Florida, Volusia County and the City of Daytona Beach, MFHP owns
27 rental properties that they offer to very low and low income clients as well as set asides for the disabled. MFHP has provided housing counseling to 527 clients during FY05-06.

Ocala Housing Authority
Ocala, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$40,000.00

The Ocala Housing Authority (OHA), a Public Housing Authority located in Ocala, Florida, became a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency in August 2000. The OHA provides both 1-on-1 and group housing counseling sessions, covering everything from rental counseling, intensive homebuyer education, both pre- and post-purchase as well as delinquency counseling as it pertains to rental and mortgages. OHA provided housing counseling to 1,837 clients during FY05-06.

Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation
Opa-Locka, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$20,000.00

The Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OPCDC) has provided housing counseling services to residents for over 25 years. Serving Opa-Locka, Miami Gardens, and unincorporated North Miami-Dade County, the agency
has developed over 1,000 housing units and 50 single-family homes. In addition to which OPCDC offers homebuyer education, pre- and post-purchase counseling, rental assistance classes and HECM training. With the FY 2007-08 grant award, OPCDC will continue to serve by offering group and individual housing counseling.

St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$48,923.27

St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (SPNHS) a non-profit neighborhood revitalization and community housing development organization (CHDO) was chartered in 1980. SPNHS's Homeownership Counseling program includes marketing and outreach, pre-purchase education and counseling, post-purchase education, and foreclosure prevention counseling. During the 2005-2006 Grant Period, the agency counseled 836 clients. Of that number, 63 clients purchased housing, two individuals brought their delinquent mortgage current, seven received a mortgage modification, and five clients obtained a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.

Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$52,000.00

Since its beginning in November 1993, Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium, Inc., (TLC), a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporation, provides comprehensive home buyer education, pre-purchase counseling, down payment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income families in the City of Tallahassee and Leon County. TLC's programs
have successfully evolved over the years to also include post homeownership education classes, mortgage delinquency counseling, Home Equity Credit Mortgage (HECM) counseling, homebuyer education and personal
finance education classes. TLC is City of Tallahassee designated Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and certified Local Housing Counseling Agency (LHCA). TLC provided counseling to 1,284 clients during the FY05-06.

Tallahassee Urban League, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$52,538.68

The Tallahassee Urban League, Inc. (TULI) is a private non-profit, non-partisan social service organization which
was established in Tallahassee in 1969n. The mission of the Urban League is to enable blacks and other minority
group members and low-income citizens to cultivate and exercise their fullest human potential. The Tallahassee
Urban League has operated a Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program since 1978 serving Tallahassee/Leon County, Madison, Jefferson, Gadsden, Taylor, Wakulla and other surrounding counties in Florida and South Georgia. TULI offers Homebuyer workshops, Delinquent/Default counseling and Pre-Purchase, Budget and HECM counseling. TULI provided counseling to 680 clients in FY05-06.

Tampa Housing Authority
Tampa, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$34,461.63

Tampa Housing (THA) was founded in 1937 and has served both the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County
residents for over 64 years. THA's mission is to promote the development and professional management of a variety
of affordable housing opportunities, facilities and supportive services to nurture neighborhoods, provide economic development and self-sufficiency activities for residents while also assuring equal access to safe, quality housing
for low and moderate income families throughout the community. The agency provided counseling services to 226 clients/households during the 2005-2006 Grant Period. Of this number, 21 clients purchased housing and 104 clients completed Homebuyer Education Workshop counseling.

The Center for Affordable Housing, Inc.
Sanford, FL
Comprehensive Counseling
$41,692.45

The Center for Affordable Housing, Inc. (TCFAH) was established in 1981 to develop safe and affordable housing
to the lower-income residents of Seminole County. The agency provides the development of affordable housing,
as well as offering individualized housing assistance, housing counseling, transitional housing for homeless families, comprehensive case management, self-sufficiency education, financial education and outreach services. TCFAH provides supportive transitional housing to homeless families, as well as provides tenant-based rental to facilitate
self-sufficiency. During FY05-06 TCFAH provided housing counseling to 923 clients.