HUD Highlights E-Newsletter

HUD Highlights is a monthly e-newsletter from HUD's Seattle Regional Office, to keep you informed about upcoming events, program updates and grant opportunities.

In This Issue

• White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
• Hurry! FHA's "Bring The Holidays Home Sale" Ends January 5, 2007
• Helping You Understand the Benefits of FHA Mortgages
• Affordable Housing: Overcoming Rehabilitation Challenges
• Neighborhood Networks: Narrowing the Digital Divide

White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (FBCI)

Faith-based and community organizations seeking federal grants - don't miss this free opportunity on Thursday, January 18 in Seattle, Washington. The day-long conference is geared towards faith-based and community organizations that have no history of applying for government grants, or those whose application attempts have been unsuccessful. Get information about the government grants process, available funding opportunities and the legal responsibilities that come with the receipt of federal funds. The event also offers grant writing tutorials for select federal grant programs.

The Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Commerce, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, the Small Business Administration, and the Agency for International Development support the conference.

Pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration deadline is 5:00 pm EST on Friday, January 12, 2007. For more information (http://www.dtiassociates.com/FBCI/logisticsWA.cfm?location=WA).

Hurry! FHA's "Bring The Holidays Home Sale" Ends January 5, 2007

Tell your friends and family. HUD launched a sales campaign to help increase homeownership opportunities across the country by offering monetary incentives to purchase a HUD home. This campaign is especially designed for low- to moderate-income families that may believe homeownership is out of their reach. The incentives are effective for HUD homes sold between December 8, 2006 through January 5, 2007 to homebuyers who intend to occupy the property as their primary residence for at least 12 months. Learn more about these monetary incentives.

Helping You Understand the Benefits of FHA Mortgages

You'll have a much greater understanding of the usefulness of FHA insured mortgages after you read the new brochure, Shopping for a Mortgage? FHA Improvements Benefit You, produced by HUD and the National Association of Realtors. Download or buy a supply (http://www.realtor.org/HousOpp.nsf/Pages/FHAMortgage?OpenDocument).

Affordable Housing: Overcoming Rehabilitation Challenges

Rehabilitation of affordable housing involves many challenges including institutional and regulatory barriers. HUD has a new two-volume publication on Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing. Volume 1 is a comprehensive resource guide to state, local, and federal tools for overcoming barriers. Volume 2 provides analyses of key rehab resources and barriers, and case studies of state and local efforts to overcome major regulatory impediments. Free download of this publication (http://www.huduser.org/publications/affhsg/bestpractices.html).

Neighborhood Networks: Narrowing the Digital Divide

Multifamily's Neighborhood Networks Initiative has narrowed the digital divide by bringing computer technology to low-income citizens by encouraging property owners to establish community technology centers in HUD-insured and assisted properties. More than 1,200 Neighborhood Networks centers across the country help to improve the quality of life for residents by providing job training and placement, creating employment and educational opportunities, advancing literacy programs and providing access to healthcare information and other social services. Read how Rolling Green Apartments in Hillsboro, Oregon brought computer access to its disabled residents, who are mostly quadriplegics.

Questions or comments? Please contact us!
     Email: WA_Webmanager@hud.gov
     Phone: (206) 220-5101
Visit us on the web: http://www.hud.gov or http://espanol.hud.gov
Our mailing address: Seattle Regional Office, 909 First Avenue, Suite 255, Seattle, WA 98104-1000

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