HUD TO HOST NATIONAL HOUSING SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON
Two-day summit will bring together public, private, and non-profit organizations from across the country

WASHINGTON - Federal, state, and community leaders from around the nation will be gathering in Washington next week for a two-day national Summit on Housing sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD Secretary Steve Preston invited key housing and finance staffs from state, city and county government, as well as representatives from the banking and housing industries, non-profit organizations, and foundations to address the country's urgent and long-term housing issues.

"It is imperative that we take a coordinated approach to meeting our nation's critical housing issues since any solution will require active partnerships at every level," said Preston. "The purpose of this summit is to bring together leaders from government, industry and the nonprofit sectors to strengthen existing partnerships that will be critical to stabilizing our communities and mitigating the effects of foreclosure in the months ahead."

HUD's National Housing Summit has several goals:

1. To present details of HUD's current and developing policies and programs, including HUD's new Neighborhood Stabilization Program;
2. To share successful Federal, State and local policies and programs that are preventing foreclosures and reducing the effects of property abandonment and declining home values;
3. To cultivate public-private partnerships; and
4. To offer an open forum for discussion of best practices.

The two-day summit will feature briefings by HUD officials and panel discussions on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the HOPE for Homeowners program, and other foreclosure prevention and loss mitigation programs.

For more information or for press registration, contact HUD Public Affairs at (202) 708-0685.