HUD ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR FLORIDIANS
Agency quickly identifying HUD-owned homes that can be used as temporary housing

FLORIDA - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today announced that he has directed all Single Family FHA-approved lenders to provide relief to families with FHA insured mortgages affected by Hurricane Charley. The relief includes a special 90-day moratorium on Single Family foreclosures. Jackson is also encouraging other, non-FHA lenders to undertake actions such as mortgage modification, refinancing, and waiver of late charges. HUD also announced it will expedite the use of federal assistance in damaged communities and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters who live in the 25 affected counties.

"Nothing can erase the suffering that these families are enduring in the wake of Hurricane Charley," Jackson 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."

Following President Bush's federal declaration, Florida-based HUD field staff began assessing local damage and providing staff to Disaster Field Offices set up by Federal Emergency Management Agency. HUD's initial concern is to help meet the immediate housing needs of those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

HUD will also:

• Grant Immediate Foreclosure Relief - HUD will grant a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured homes;
  
  
• 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, 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.
  
  
• Provide Temporary Housing and Shelter - HUD will work with FEMA to identify vacant multi-family housing, public housing units and HUD-owned homes that can be used as temporary housing for those forced from their homes;
  
  
• Reprogram and Accelerate Federal Block Grants - HUD will permit communities to redistribute 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;
  
  

HUD also plans to provide funding to public housing authorities to rehabilitate damaged properties after insurance proceeds have been exhausted.

Specific guidance for FHA-approved lenders can be found at HUDCLIPS.

Floridians in search of housing assistance should call 1-800-621-3362 or view the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/about/process/.