HUD ANNOUNCES $43.7 MILLION IN HOUSING COUNSELING GRANTS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
Two Idaho Organizations awarded $235,450

BOISE - Nearly 910,000 individuals and families will have a greater opportunity to find housing or keep the homes
they have because of more than $36 million in housing counseling grants announced by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) was successful in its application for $171,450 of that national grant and plans to pass the funding on to Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc. (IPHBE, Inc). IPHBE will
use the funding to provide housing counseling and homebuyer education statewide through IHFA's branch offices, IPHBE's 8 training partners and 1 Counseling partner. Funded services include homebuyer education, pre-purchase, pre-occupancy, rent delinquency counseling, and post purchase/mortgage default counseling. IHFA plans to serve 2,630 clients with the grant funds.

The Community Action Partnership (CAP) in Lewiston was awarded $64,000. CAP expects to serve at least 325 families in need of housing counseling through homebuyer education and rental workshops, fair housing group
sessions, and one-on-one counseling.

Connie Hogland, HUD's Boise Field Office Director, said she was "thrilled with the Idaho awards because this outstanding credit, financial and homebuyer education program will serve to strengthen families, neighborhoods and whole communities throughout the state. The spin-off and leveraging of this grant will be tremendous."

"HUD's Housing Counseling program plays a key role in support of the President's goal," said Jackson. "Under this Administration, more families are receiving counseling services than ever before and more families are purchasing
and keeping their homes. In addition, this program is also helping more families find the help they need to secure decent and affordable rental housing."

Grantees will assist unwary borrowers avoid predatory lending practices such as 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.

The organizations that provide housing counseling services help people become or remain homeowners or find rental housing. HUD-funded housing counseling agencies also assist homeless persons to find the transitional housing they need to move toward a permanent place to live.

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 as
well as 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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