HUD EXTENDS NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR "WOODSON AWARDS" TO MARCH 31st
Award recognizes efforts to reduce regulatory barriers to affordable housing

WASHINGTON - The Department of Housing and Urban Development today extended the deadline for states and local communities to submit nominations for the second annual Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Awards until March 31, 2006. HUD previously asked that all Woodson Award nominations be received by March 15th. The extension recognizes that many communities in the Gulf Coast region are primarily devoted to hurricane recovery efforts and need more time to prepare their submissions.

"With everything they've had to cope with, state and local leaders in the Gulf region could use a little more time," said A. Bryant Applegate, Director of America's Affordable Communities Initiative. "We hope that local communities along the Gulf Coast will find this two-week extension helpful as they prepare their applications."

The Robert L. Woodson Jr. Award is named in memory of HUD's late chief of staff and is designed to recognize local governments who aggressively work to reduce regulatory barriers to affordable housing. Regulatory barriers to affordable housing are public regulatory requirements, payments or processes that significantly impede the development and availability of affordable housing without providing a commensurate health and/or safety benefit. To download a copy of an application for the Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award, visit HUD's website.

In 2003, HUD made barrier reduction one of the Department's top priorities and created America's Affordable Community Initiative. HUD continues to review its own regulations to identify those that effectively discourage the production of affordable housing. Meanwhile, HUD is aggressively working with state and local leaders to create more affordable housing-friendly environments around the country. For more information about this important priority, visit HUD's America's Affordable Communities Initiative.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.