OBAMA ADMINISTRATION RELEASES NEW DATA ON MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE PROGRAM, ACHIEVES KEY MILESTONE WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

WASHINGTON - Today, almost one month ahead of a November 1 benchmark set earlier this year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new milestone of more than 500,000 trial loan modifications in progress under the Making Home Affordable program.

The goal of 500,000 trial loan modifications by November 1 initially set in July pushed servicers to ramp up program implementation and sustain a faster pace of modifications; trial modifications are now being issued at a faster rate than new homeowners are becoming eligible. Still, the Administration believes that more can and should be done to assist struggling homeowners and to stabilize the housing market. As part of a continued effort to improve program performance, senior Treasury and HUD officials held the next in a series of meetings with servicers this afternoon, with discussion focused on improving servicer efficiency and responsiveness to borrowers during the modification process.

Additionally, Treasury and HUD released today the next Monthly MHA Program Report, which tracks servicer performance through the month of September - ending September 30, 2009. That report can be found online (www.treas.gov/press/releases/docs/MHA%20Public%20100809%20Final.pdf).

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.