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HUD Joins in as
National Association of Counties
Holds Annual Conference and Exhibit
Officials Pitch in at Habitat for Humanity Building Site
Regional Director Joseph Galvan (second from left in center row)
joined representatives from Counties across the United States as
they helped build a Habitat for Humanity House in Milwaukee on July
10, 2003. Work on the Habitat House, sponsored by Freddie Mac, served
as the kick-off to the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2003
Annual Conference held in Milwaukee on July 11-15, 2003.
Director Galvan gave recognition to special guests from around
the country, discussed the Secretary's homeownership priorities,
and helped out in the construction of the Habitat House by installing
siding. Jean Leslie, the Executive Director of Milwaukee Habitat
for Humanity, introduced Shenika Jackson, the mother of three children,
who is the new Habitat homeowner. Ms. Jackson works at the Medical
College of Wisconsin and is also in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Habitat
for Humanity is scheduled to complete 24 new homes and the rehabilitation
of four older homes in Milwaukee this year. The group has completed
more than 150,000 homes worldwide.
Milwaukee
County Executive, Scott Walker, was among the County Officials
from across the nation who helped build the Habitat housing.
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Bob
Berlan, Community Planning and Development Director in the Milwaukee
Field Office, answered questions for one of the participants
at the NACo Annual Conference exhibition hall. |
HUD
Senior Counsel A. Bryant Applegate addressed the America's Housing
Challenge Workshop. |
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Frank Vaccarella, HUD's Senior Intergovernmental Relations Officer,
addressed NACo's Community and Economic Development Steering Committee
on July 12. The Steering Committee is comprised of approximately
80 elected officials and practitioners with a strong interest in
housing and economic development issues. At the Committee meeting,
Mr. Vaccarella presented NACo with three resolutions in support
of the Administration's strategies to end chronic homelessness,
to provide down payment assistance to lower income families, and
to increase funding for the Colonias Gateway Initiative. Secretary
Mel Martinez has
praised NACo for adopting these resolutions.
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