HUD ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR FLORIDA

WASHINGTON - Working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, HUD announced today it will expedite federal assistance to flood-damaged communities in Louisiana and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters who live in 10 affected parishes hit by Tropical Storm Allison.

"Nothing can erase the suffering that these families are enduring in the wake of Allison," HUD Secretary Mel Martinez said. "Fortunately, we have several flexible tools that will help speed disaster recovery efforts in the affected communities. We stand ready to help with the rebuilding process in any way we can."

President Bush on Sunday declared Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties as federal disaster areas. The declaration covers damage to private and public property from the storm that hit the northwest part of Florida June 11-15.

Following the President's action, HUD will provide staff to Disaster Field Offices set up by FEMA to provide information on programs designed to meet the immediate housing needs of those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

HUD will:

• Provide Temporary Housing and Shelter - HUD will work with FEMA to identify vacant public housing and HUD-owned homes that can be used as temporary housing for those forced from their homes;
• Grant Immediate Foreclosure Relief - HUD will grant a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured homes;
• Redirect and Accelerate Federal Block Grants - HUD will permit communities to divert Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME funds for disaster recovery efforts;
• Provide Section 108 Loan Guarantees - HUD will permit state and local governments participating in the CDBG program to obtain federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure;

• Provide Public Housing Reserve for Disasters and Emergencies - HUD will provide funding to public housing authorities to rehabilitate flood-damaged properties after insurance proceeds have been exhausted;

• Make Available Single-Family Home Mortgage Insurance - HUD's Section 203(h) program enables the FHA to insure mortgages of disaster victims who have lost their homes and are in the process of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs; and,

• Make Available Programs for Damaged or Destroyed Properties - HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables homebuyers and homeowners who have lost their homes to finance both the purchase and/or refinancing of a house and the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home. This program encourages lenders to make mortgages available to borrowers who would not otherwise qualify for conventional loans on affordable terms and to residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods.

For more information about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims, visit HUD's web site.