HUD CONTINUES TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE HELP TO HOMEOWNERS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
HUD Secretary to troubled homeowners: Don't wait to seek relief; Visit HUD.gov

TAMPA - Distressed homeowners in West Central Florida do not have to wait for the new housing law to take effect on October 1st in order to be eligible for mortgage relief. HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) continues to provide troubled homeowners with access to safe, affordable mortgage products.

"HUD understands that for many families, time is of the essence. These families should not wait to obtain help when
it may already be available," said HUD Secretary Steve Preston. "Delay could only result in the loss of their home.
We have already helped hundreds of thousands of families nationwide, and we believe there are more West Central Florida families that can currently benefit from our refinancing product."

Immediate assistance is available by calling (800) CALL-FHA. There are 25 HUD-approved housing counseling
agencies standing by to help homeowners in West Central Florida. In addition, homeowners may also call the HOPE Now alliance at: (888) HOPE-NOW.

In July, the Bush Administration expanded its flagship mortgage insurance program to assist more homeowners who
are struggling to keep up with their high-cost subprime adjustable rate mortgages. HUD's FHA expanded its
FHASecure refinancing product to insure more mortgages for borrowers who were late on a few payments and/or received a voluntary mortgage principal write-down from their lender.

With this expansion, FHA has helped more than 320,000 families since September 2007 refinance into affordable mortgages and is on pace to help 500,000 American families by the end of this year.

1. In August 2007, FHA initially modified its refinancing program to help creditworthy homeowners who missed
   their mortgage payments as a result of the payment shock associated with interest rate resets. FHASecure
   has further expanded its eligibility criteria to help homeowners who have gone into default as a result of
   temporary economic setbacks. FHA's eligibility will now help the following categories of troubled
   homeowners: Borrowers who are delinquent on their adjustable rate mortgages, but who were late on no
   more than two monthly mortgage payments over the previous twelve months are eligible for the standard
   97 percent loan-to-value (LTV) FHASecure refinance loan.
   
   
2. Borrowers delinquent on their adjustable rate mortgages who were late on three consecutive monthly
   mortgage payments or at three different times over the past twelve months will be eligible for a 90 percent
   LTV ratio FHASecure refinance loan.

FHASecure can help additional borrowers in West Central Florida and across the nation access a more viable refinancing option and will offer lenders an alternative to foreclosing on these individuals. Lenders can already voluntarily write down the outstanding subprime mortgage principal balances to a 97 percent or 90 percent LTV
ratio depending on the borrowers' circumstances. FHA will also encourage lenders to make other arrangements,
such as subordinate financing, to "fill the gap" between the existing loan balances and the FHA-insurable loan
amount. The refinanced loan amount backed by the FHA would be based upon a new appraisal, performed by an
FHA-approved appraiser.

Below is a list of local HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in your area:

Bradenton-Palmetto

Catholic Charities - Palmetto
Phone: (941) 714-7829
1219 16th Street, West
Bradenton, Florida 34205

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice FL
Phone: (941) 714-7829
1219 16th Street, West
Bradenton, Florida 34205

Center for Financial Independence, Inc.
(formerly known as) Manatee Coalition for Affordable Housing
Phone: (941) 746-2115
319 6TH Avenue West
Bradenton, Florida 34205-0000

Manatee Community Action Agency, Inc.
(formerly known as) Manatee Opportunity Council, Incorporated
Phone: (941) 827-0188 ext. 7802
302 Manatee Avenue E, Suite 150
Bradenton, Florida 34208

Brooksville

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc. - Brooksville Branch
Phone: (800) 741-7040
(SunTrust Bank)
1 East Jefferson Street
Brooksville, Florida 34605-3460

Clearwater

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc. - Clearwater/Largo
Phone: (800) 741-7040
4625 East Bay Drive, Suite 205
Clearwater, Florida 33764

Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Phone: (727) 442-4155
608 N Garden Ave
Clearwater, Florida 33755

National Foundation for Debt Management
Phone: (800) 344-5153 ext. 287
14104 58th Street N.
Clearwater, Florida 33760

Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation
Phone: (727) 446-6222 ext. 11
2139 NE Coachman Road
Clearwater, Florida 33765

Dade City

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc. - Dade City
Phone: (800) 741-7040
37837 Meridian Avenue, Suite 200
Dade City, Florida 33525

Lake Alfred

The Agriculture and Labor Program, Inc.
Phone: (863) 956-3491 ext. 223
300 Lynchburg Road
PO Box 3126
Lake Alfred, Florida 33850-9000

New Port Richey

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc.
New Port Richey Branch
Phone: (800) 741-7040
5945 Florida Avenue
New Port Richey, Florida 34652

Sarasota

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc.
Sarasota Branch
Phone: (800) 741-7040
1750 17th Street, Unit H
(Schoenbaum Human Service Center)
Sarasota, Florida 34234

Goodwill Industries Manasota, Inc.
Phone: (941) 747-8930
1781 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Sarasota, Florida 34234

St. Petersburg

Catholic Charities of Saint Petersburg
Phone: (727) 893-1313 ext. 202
1213 16th Street North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33705

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc.
St. Petersburg Branch
Phone: (800) 741-7040
1600 Martin L. King Street S
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Tampa

Acorn Housing, Tampa, FL
Phone: (813) 871-2795
1344 W. Cass Street
Tampa, Florida 33606

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc., Tampa, FL
Phone: (800) 741-7040
5421 Beaumont Center Blvd.
Suite 600
Tampa, Florida 33634

Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa
Phone: (813) 248-2552
2705 East Martin Luther King Blvd
Suite B
Tampa, Florida 33610-8200

CU Housing Partners, LLC
Phone; (813) 414-6815
813-414-6815
711 E. Henderson Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33602

Housing and Education Alliance
Phone: (813) 261-5151
550 N. Reo Street
Tampa, Florida 33609

Naca (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America), Tampa, FL
Phone: (813) 287-5051
3825 Henderson Blvd
Suite 502
Tampa, Florida 33629

Solita's House Inc.
Phone: (813) 425-4847
1703 North Tampa St., Suite 6
Tampa, Florida 33602

Tampa Housing Authority
Phone: (813) 251-0551 ext. 212
1803 North Howard Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33607

Venice

CCCS of Central FL and the FL Gulf Coast, Inc.
Venice Branch
Phone: (800) 741-7040
273 South Tamiami Trail
Business 41
(Fifth Third Bank) Venice Island
Venice, Florida 34285

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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.