HUD RECOGNIZES LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST MAINE RESIDENTS WITH ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP

PORTLAND, MAINE - Federal, state and local officials gathered today at the Portland historic house that was saved from demolition when it was moved from a vacant lot on Myrtle Street, renovated, and sold as an affordable housing project.

Governor John Baldacci, Portland Mayor James Cohen, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) Regional Director Taylor Caswell congratulated the homeowner for her purchase, and celebrated what can be accomplished with partnerships.

The 1857 house was moved from 10 Mechanic Street when a condo development was planned. The City of Portland gave the Bayside Neighborhood Association a $200,000 loan from its HUD allocation to purchase the lot and oversee the renovations on the house.

Margaret Widmer, who grew up in Brunswick and has lived in Portland for eight years, was chosen by a housing
lottery in April. She paid $190,000 for the six-room house after going through homeownership training at Maine
Home Works, a HUD-approved counseling agency. Ms. Widmer received a $30,000 loan through the City of Portland's HomePort program, which was established with funding received through HUD's HOME program. (The HOME program
is the largest federal block grant awarded to state and local governments. Over the past three years, the City of Portland has received more than $2 million in HOME funding.) Ms. Widmer also received a 30-year Maine State Housing Authority mortgage through KeyBank.

Caswell recognized the City of Portland and the State of Maine for their commitment to affordable housing.

"With the help of HUD and its partners, the dream of homeownership is achieved every day in this country, often
by people who thought owning a house was out of reach," said Caswell. "The need for affordable homes, which is
a challenge for many income levels, is not going away. When state and local officials use creative approaches, as
was done here in Bayside, we can continue providing opportunities for residents to achieve the American Dream of homeownership."

The majority of the renovations done on the house were completed through the local YouthBuild program. Funded
by HUD and administered by Portland West, the YouthBuild program offers job training and leadership skills to unemployed and undereducated people ages 16-24 who work toward their GED while learning construction skills by building or renovating affordable housing for low-income and homeless individuals. Portland West has received more than $5.2 million in HUD funding to educate and train more than 700 at-risk youth.

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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