CUOMO SAYS HUD OFFERS IMPROVED WEB SITE TO OPEN DOOR OF CYBERSPACE FOR MORE AMERICANS

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said today that HUD has redesigned its World Wide Web site to make it easier to use and to highlight the most sought-after information.

"The theme of the new HUD budget that President Clinton proposed is 'Opening Doors for More Americans,'" Cuomo said. "Our new web site is opening the door of cyberspace for more Americans to give them faster and easier access to information that will help them benefit from HUD programs."

On the new web site, which was first posted this week, there is a direct front page link to "homes for sale" - HUD's most requested page - and a daily front page vignette on a successful HUD-assisted locally run program in a community.

In addition, there are new sections on homeownership, homeless assistance and rental help pages. There are also answers to common questions on top of each page. Live or video presentations are also available for the first time.

For people without internet access, HUD's home page is available for public use for free at any of HUD's 81 field offices. People can also visit one of HUD's offices and talk with a HUD Community Builder to learn how to better utilize HUD programs.

HUD's web site is at http://www.hud.gov