HUD Highlights E-Newsletter

President Signs Housing Act
Responding to the downturn in the housing market, on July 30, President George W. Bush signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Some changes go into effect as early as October 1, 2008. The Act will, among other things: help up to 400,000 at-risk homeowners refinance into government-insured mortgages; raise the cap on FHA-insured mortgages; create a Housing Trust Fund with proceeds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; increase funds for housing counseling agencies; enhance protections against foreclosure under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; and provide almost $4 billion to help state and local governments address rising inventories of foreclosed properties.

Read more about the Act: www.hud.gov/news/recoveryactfaq.cfm

HOP(e)WA
Describing them as a lifeline for people "struggling to find a decent home while trying to manage complex drug therapies", HUD Secretary Steve Preston has announced the 2008 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) renewal grants. Northwest organizations received three of the 18 grants awarded nationwide. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation received $915,440, the Idaho Housing Finance Association received $1,349,068, and the Spokane County Community Services Division received $1,295,489. The housing assistance, Preston added, will allow beneficiaries to "concentrate on staying healthy instead of worrying how they'll pay next month's rent".

Read the press release: /local/wa/news/pr2008-08-18.cfm

EcoWise Have you seen the EcoWise energy conservation newsletter, published by our Public Housing Energy Conservation Clearinghouse (PHECC)? The newsletter is targeted to Public Housing Agencies, but includes lots of general energy information helpful to anyone.

CoC Grant Application Deadline Set
Friday, September 26, 2008, 4 p.m. Eastern, is the deadline for receipt of electronically-submitted grant applications under HUD's 2008 Continuum of Care (CoC) Homeless Assistance Program, as published in the Federal Register on August 13.

Around the Region?

• HUD veteran Bill Zachares is the new Administrator for HUD's Alaska Office of Native American Programs.
  
  
• The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle selected Evergreen Federal Bank of Grants Pass, OR, for its 2008 "Community Spirit Award", for their work with the Gospel Rescue Mission. The Mission provides more than 130 affordable housing units for southern Oregon's homeless.
  
  
• USDA Rural Development awarded more than $1.5 million in broadband "community connect" grants to Tatitlek, Alaska; Ferdinand, Idaho; and Malden, Washington.
  
  
• Fairbanks Rescue Mission in AK; Central Oregon Veterans Outreach in Bend, OR; and Longview Housing Authority, Seattle Salvation Army, and Seattle's Pioneer Human Services in WA, are among 55 organizations nationwide to win Department of Veterans Affairs "per diem" grants to add transitional beds for homeless veterans.

Upcoming Events

• Governor's Workforce Development Conference - September 3-4, Lynwood, WA
• FHA Lender Update - September 9-11, Boise, ID
• Improving ICDBG Applications Workshop - September 9-11, Anchorage, AK
• Idaho REALTORS Annual Conference and Trade Show (www.idahorealtors.com/) - Portland, OR, September 10-13 (registration closes September 3)
• Housing Washington 15th Annual Affordable Housing Conference (www.wshfc.org/conf/) - September 15-16, Tacoma, WA
• Alaska REALTORS Annual Convention (www.alaskarealtors.com/convention/convention.htm) - September 16-20, Denali State Park
• Annual Conference of Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians - September 22-25, Umatilla, OR

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HUD Highlights is an e-newsletter from HUD's Seattle Regional Office about HUD news, upcoming events, program updates and grant opportunities. If you received this newsletter from a friend, and would like to receive your own copy, please sign up for our mailing list.

Questions or comments about HUD Highlights?
HUD Seattle Regional Office, 909 First Avenue, Suite 255, Seattle, WA 98104-1000
(206) 220-5101 or toll-free (877) 741-3281
WA_Webmanager@hud.gov
www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov

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