OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AWARDS ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION TO STABILIZE MONTANA NEIGHBORHOODS HARD-HIT BY FORECLOSURE
Third round of NSP grants to build on efforts to confront abandonment and blight

HELENA - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded an
additional $5 Million in funding to Montana communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis.
The grants announced today represent a third round of funding through HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and will provide targeted emergency assistance to help local communities Montana acquire, redevelop or demolish foreclosed properties.

"These grants will support local efforts to reverse the effects these foreclosed properties have on their surrounding neighborhoods," said Donovan. "We want to make certain that we target these funds to those places with
especially high foreclosure activity so we can help turn the tide in our battle against abandonment and blight. As a direct result of the leadership provided by Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who played key roles
in winning approval for these funds, we will be able to make investments that will reduce blight, bolster neighboring home values, create jobs and produce affordable housing."

"Once again Montanans experiencing mortgage foreclosures will benefit with this latest round of federal assistance," said HUD's Regional Administrator Rick Garcia. "These dollars build on the previously allocated NSP and add a series
of new focused assistance to aid homeowners, communities and neighborhoods that are in greatest need."

The funding announced today is provided under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
To date, there have been two other rounds of NSP funding: the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
(HERA) provided $3.92 billion and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
appropriated an additional $2 billion. Like those earlier rounds of NSP grants, these targeted funds will be used to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and to rehabilitate or redevelop them in order to respond to rising foreclosures and falling home values. Today, 92 cents of every dollar from the first round of NSP funding is
obligated - and is in use by communities, buying up and renovating homes, and creating jobs.

State and local governments can use their neighborhood stabilization grants to acquire land and property; to
demolish or rehabilitate abandoned properties; and/or to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low-
to moderate-income homebuyers (household incomes not exceed 120 percent of area median income). In addition, these grantees can create "land banks" to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the
purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging re-use or redevelopment of urban property.

NSP 3 will take full advantage of the historic First Look partnership Secretary Donovan announced with the National Community Stabilization Trust last week. First Look gives NSP grantees an exclusive 12-14 day window to evaluate and bid on properties before others can do so. By giving every NSP grantee the first crack at buying foreclosed and abandoned properties in these targeted neighborhoods, First Look will maximize the impact of NSP dollars in the hardest-hit neighborhoods - making it more likely the properties communities want to buy are strategically chosen
and cutting the traditional 75-to-85 day process it takes to re-sell foreclosed properties in half.

NSP also seeks to prevent future foreclosures by requiring housing counseling for families receiving homebuyer assistance. HUD seeks to protect future homebuyers by requiring States and local grantees to ensure that new homebuyers under this program receive homeownership counseling and obtain a mortgage loan from a lender who agrees to comply with sound lending practices.

In determining the allocations announced today, HUD, as it did with NSP1, followed key indicators for the
distribution formula outlined by Congress. HUD is using the latest data to implement the Congressional formula.
The formula weighs several factors to match funding to need in the 20 percent most distressed neighborhoods as determined based on the number and percentage of home foreclosures, the number and percentage of homes
financed by a subprime mortgage related loan, and the number and percentage of homes in delinquency. To
estimate the level of need down exactly what to the neighborhood level, HUD uses a model that takes into account causes of foreclosures and delinquencies, which include housing price declines from peak levels, and increases in unemployment, and rate of high cost and highly leveraged loans. HUD also considers vacancy problems in neighborhoods with severe foreclosure related problems.

In addition to a third round of NSP funding, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
creates a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program to be administered by HUD. This loan program will provide up to 24 months in mortgage assistance to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition. HUD
will announce additional details, including the targeted areas and other program specifics when the program is
officially launched in the coming weeks.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

State Grantee NSP3 Grant
Montana
State of Montana - $5,000,000