BUSH ADMINISTRATION FUNDS NINE VIRGINIA GROUPS TO PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
Total of $132,000 Going to Housing Counseling Agencies in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Manassas, Richmond and Roanoke

RICHMOND - Nine Virginia housing counseling agencies have won grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help families buy or keep their homes. The organizations are located in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Manassas, Richmond and Roanoke.

"These grants will go a long way to help more Americans either become or remain homeowners," said Martinez. "President Bush and I are committed to opening the doors to the American Dream to minority families who have
long wanted a home to call their own."

The HUD Housing Counseling grants announced by HUD Secretary Martinez Homeownership are expected to help
more than a quarter million people nationwide to either become first-time homeowners or remain homeowners
after their purchase. The grants were awarded to 12 national and regional organizations and 222 states and local
housing counseling agencies. These organizations will provide counseling services and will help meet the Bush
Administration's goal of increasing minority homeownership by 5.5 million families by the end of the decade.

The organizations in Virginia that were awarded housing counseling grants are:

President Bush is proposing to increase HUD's Housing Counseling grant program from $20 million to $35 million next year - a 75 percent increase. The organizations that provide counseling services help people become or remain homeowners or find rental housing. In addition, HUD-funded housing counseling agencies assist homeless persons to find the transitional housing they need to move toward a permanent place to live.

Secretary Martinez also awarded housing counseling grants to 12 national and regional agencies that, in turn, distribute the funds to local affiliates and community-based organizations that provide free advice and guidance
to low- and moderate-income families seeking to improve their housing conditions. In addition, these larger
organizations help improve the quality of housing counseling services and enhance coordination among other counseling providers.

The national and regional organizations receiving housing counseling grant awards include Catholic Charities USA in Alexandria, the National Foundation for Consumer Credit and the McAuley Foundation, both based in Silver Spring;
the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and the National Council of La Raza, both based in Washington; the Housing Partnership Network and the Citizens Housing and Planning Association, both based in Boston; the National Urban League in New York; the National Association of Real Estate Brokers in Oakland, California; Housing Opportunities, Inc. in McKeesport; and the Acorn Housing Corporation in Philadelphia.

Based on past experience, HUD anticipates the counseling grants announced today will enable approximately
160,000 would-be homeowners to learn how to improve their credit, strengthen money management skills and avoid predatory lenders and other unscrupulous practices. Another 100,000 existing homeowners will learn how to avoid delinquency and default, restructure debt and maintain their home. In addition, nearly 120,000 individuals and
families who will receive HUD-funded counseling are renters. Counseling services will help them find housing closer to their jobs or health care as well as teach them about tenant rights. Finally, nearly 13,000 homeless individuals and families will learn how to find emergency services and secure transitional housing.

HUD awards annual grants under this program through a competitive process. Organizations that apply for grants
must be HUD-approved and are subject to biannual performance reviews to maintain their HUD-approved status.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, 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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