HUD ANNOUNCES $400,000 TO GIVE AT-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE CAREERS BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND $300,000 TO INCREASE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN
Students to graduate and build homes for others facing homelessness

VIENNA, GA - Young people who drop out of high school face a lifetime of underemployment and can be at higher
risk of homelessness. However, many of these "at-risk" young people in Crisp and Dooly Counties are looking
forward to graduation and careers in homebuilding because of $400,000 awarded by Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Bob Young to Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone, Inc. The announcement is part of $45.5 million in grants announced by HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson last week. The Rural Housing Economic Development Grant in the amount of $300,000 will be used to make three affordable housing loans and five business loans; support homebuyer education, improve services and cash flow for entrepreneurs and small businesses by establishing a facility maintenance manager project and providing on-the job training as a part of the Business Development Center business incubation program.

"This funding will help stimulate critically needed business development that ultimately leads to jobs in these rural communities", Young said.

The Youthbuild grant presented today will offer job training and leadership skills to an estimated young people in
Crisp and Dooly Counties and 3,075 nationwide. Youthbuild grants will help these students, ages 16-to-24, to earn their high school diplomas and train them for a future in the construction trades while producing three homes for
lower income families, many facing homelessness.

Young said, "With a modest investment by HUD, we can help these young people graduate high school, start them
on a new career path, and create more affordable homes for families who might otherwise be living on our streets."

This announcement marks a transition of the Youthbuild program from HUD to the Department of Labor. This transfer represents the fulfillment of a 2003 White House Task Force Report on Disadvantaged Youth and resulted in the passage of The Youthbuild Transfer Act, signed by President Bush in September.

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. For more information about FHA products, please visit www.fha.gov.

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