HUD
No. 02-X-09 Cori Senechal (206) 220-5101 ext. 3510 |
For
Release Monday July 8, 2002 |
HUD NAMES LIAISON FOR COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN IDAHO
SEATTLE - Housing and Urban Development Regional Director John Meyers today announced Brian Dale will serve as the Department's principle liaison to community and faith-based organizations in Idaho.
Brian Dale will act as HUD's primary point of contact with faith-based
and community groups seeking information, technical assistance and
funding opportunities in Idaho. He has a solid background in HUD's
programs, having
served as a community liaison for several years
and has previous experience with nonprofits, accessibility organizations,
and state government.
"Brian
will be an indispensable resource to these organizations as we seek
to facilitate their participation in HUD's mission of providing
critically needed housing and other services to people in need," said John Meyers. "This is just
one more way we can
level the playing field for smaller faith-based and community groups
who are doing so much good at the grassroots level."
Brian Dale said, "I'm excited to be HUD's liaison to these community and faith-based groups. I'm hopeful I can help continue to break down the barriers that may prevent the full inclusion of these important organizations in the Department's work in their neighborhoods."
Shortly after taking office, President Bush established Centers
for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in five
major cabinet
agencies, including HUD, to evaluate policies, funding programs,
and agency outreach efforts to
ensure that they emphasize effectiveness
and hospitality to faith-based and community-based organizations.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez directed a
top-to-bottom review of all HUD programs to identify barriers to
the participation of community- and faith-based organizations. As
a result, HUD is working to remove these barriers and reach out
to the faith community and other grassroots organizations that are
uniquely positioned to more effectively provide social services
to low-income Americans.
Last month, Martinez released a bilingual "how-to guide"
to help faith-based organizations encourage
homeownership opportunities,
particularly among minority families who continue to lag behind
historic
homeownership rates. Ten Things Your Faith Community Can
Do To Encourage Homeownership offers faith-based grassroots organizations
an easy-to-read guide to promoting homeownership in their communities.
Earlier this year, HUD Secretary Mel Martinez also issued guidance
to approximately 3,200 local public housing agencies granting
them
the authority to institute "an open door policy" for faith-based
organizations to provide social services to
public housing residents.
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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