$50 Million Given to Help Seniors and Families Living in Public Housing

Over $50 Million has been awarded by HUD to aid senior citizens, disabled persons, and families living in public housing within the U.S. and Puerto Rico. A large part of these funds will be used in order to offer these residents greater access to employment and education, and part of the funds will also be channeled toward helping the elderly and disabled to live independently. The funding is provided through HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program (ROSS), and is geared toward helping a wide range of people within the target groups.

For more information on HUD’s Ross Program, and this aid recently provided, please visit: http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-027.cfm&CFID=4115041&CFTOKEN=52052542

Guidelines Released for “Reasonable Modifications” within Fair Housing Act

According to HUD, new guidance has been recently released regarding the right of those with disabilities to make what are considered “reasonable modifications” to their homes so that they are able to fully utilize and enjoy their dwellings. The guidance has been issued in hopes of making it clearer to housing providers and homeowners’ associations what they are obligated to provide to help disabled residents, and also to help those with disabilities to fully understand what they are entitled to. This guidance supports and maintains FHA’s policies prohibiting any discrimination in housing, which includes discrimination against the disabled by housing providers or homeowners associations’ refusal to modify dwellings to accommodate those persons.

For more information on FHA Fair Housing, please visit:
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-028.cfm&CFID=4115041&CFTOKEN=52052542

For more information, please visit:
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-026.cfm&CFID=4115041&CFTOKEN=52052542

Stimulus Plan Includes Temporary Increase in Loan Limits

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson recognizes the need for affordable mortgages ensured by FHA, as well as temporarily increased home loan limits, in order to help tens of thousands of California families keep their homes. This week, FHA has published temporary loan limits that range from $271,050 to $729,750 – a move that will provide economic stability to California communities, and also give countless homeowners and buyers across the country a safer and more viable mortgage alternative. Although these loan limits expire at the end of 2008, President Bush and Jackson continue to urge Congress to pass permanent bills to help create more possibilities for homeownership throughout the US.

**To check mortgage loans limits by zip code visit: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm