| HUD No. 00-40 | |
| Further Information: | For Release |
| In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685 | 2:00 p.m. Monday |
| Or contact your local HUD office | February 28, 2000 |
CUOMO JOINS CAMPBELL TO OPEN NEW HUD STOREFRONT OFFICE
ATLANTA, GA - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo and Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell today formally opened HUD's Atlanta Storefront Office to provide improved services to individuals, organizations, businesses and local governments.
The HUD Storefront Office - called HUD Next Door - is a new type of consumer-oriented center that offers a variety of services and information dealing with: buying and building housing, getting home improvement loans, getting rental assistance, filing housing discrimination complaints, opening and expanding businesses, and community revitalization projects. It is located in the 5 Points Plaza Building in downtown Atlanta.
Staffed by HUD Community Builders, the Atlanta Storefront will handle inquiries, complaints and requests for assistance coming from all over Georgia. People will be able to receive information on a range of government programs.
"At HUD, 'your neighbor next door' is more than a slogan," Cuomo said. "It describes our commitment to help people and places around the country build better futures, and to be more consumer-friendly and effective."
Mayor Campbell said: "This office is a wonderful concept, an outstanding way for HUD to reach into the neighborhoods and positively affect the quality of life for so many Americans. People in public housing, prospective homeowners, local advocacy groups - all will have this place to find answers to questions and helpful advice from HUD."
The Mayor added: "I want to congratulate Secretary Andrew Cuomo for his initiative and officially welcome this wonderful new concept to Atlanta. Today's opening signals the beginning of expanded community building partnerships in Georgia by offering individuals and organizations who need federal assistance face-to-face access to appropriate officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The establishment of a HUD Next Door facility downtown is indicative of the strong relationship between the City of Atlanta and HUD in community development efforts."
The Atlanta Storefront Office is open weekdays Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays until 6:30 p.m., and the second Saturday each month from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The phone number is
HUD Storefronts are equipped with computers available for public use to assist people in obtaining information on all HUD programs and in searching the various federal inventories for homes offered for sale. The same information is available 24 hours a day through the use of an outdoor "touch screen" computer kiosk.
Written information (also available in Spanish) is available to assist potential homebuyers find mortgage and rehabilitation financing, lender information, and homebuying tips.
In addition, Community 2020 - HUD's new computer mapping software - is available at all HUD Storefronts and all HUD offices nationwide. This software provides the latest project and funding information on all HUD programs in thousands of cities across the country.
For example, the Community 2020 software provides valuable information for organizations looking to fund a homeless shelter, or for businesses wanting to revitalize a downtown center. Included in the software is information on project location, purpose, number of people served and dollar amount.
The Atlanta Storefront Office includes a community room equipped with the latest in telecommunications equipment, which allows the Storefront to accommodate satellite broadcasts, teleconferences and video conferences.
HUD encourages public organizations and groups to use the Atlanta Storefront Office to hold community meetings, view satellite training presentations, and log onto HUD's Internet Homepage. In addition, school and community groups will be invited to the offices to hear presentations on how HUD's programs can benefit people in their neighborhoods.
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