Homeless & Crisis Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to terminate the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), one of the Administration's key foreclosure response programs. This vote came despite the devastating impacts the recession and foreclosure crisis continue to have on neighborhoods across the country -- including increased homelessness.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Fannie Mae announced the results of its annual Help the Homeless Program, which raised $6.5 million in 2010 for non-profit beneficiary organizations that work to prevent and end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Washington, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, during a news conference call, Nevada Senator Harry Reid and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown joined by a former homeless veteran to denounce the extreme Republican spending proposal that slashes 10,000 housing vouchers that would keep homeless veterans off the streets next year in Ohio, Nevada and across the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the current Republican budget proposal eliminating a successful grant program that could leave thousands of veterans on the streets, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) held a news conference call today to urge the continuation of the program to prevent veteran homelessness.

March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The N.C. Housing Finance Agency this month has added 13 HUD-approved counseling agencies to the N.C. Foreclosure Prevention Fund™, increasing the number of agencies where homeowners can apply to 37. The program began offering mortgage payment assistance December 1 in all 100 counties

NEW YORK, NY - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Housing Committee Chairman Vito Lopez were joined by members of the Assembly Majority, David R. Jones the President of the Community Service Society of New York, affordable housing advocates and rent-regulated tenants to release a groundbreaking new report documenting rent-stabilized housing’s critical role in protecting millions of working New Yorkers and the urgent need to extend rent-stabilization laws while closing the loopholes that are costing New York thousands of affordable apartments every year.

Washington, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), along with Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Mark Begich (D-AK), introduced legislation to ensure that schools will continue removing the barriers to education caused by homelessness among children and youth. The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2011 will amend the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program to better allow school districts to identify and address the needs of children and youth affected by homelessness and to bolster opportunities that help them succeed in school

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators from across the country stood with advocates for homeless veterans to oppose a provision in Republicans’ reckless spending proposal that would cut 10,000 housing vouchers that would keep homeless veterans off the streets next year

March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "We laid out a timeline that would establish a homeless encampment in SODO before winter weather sets in later this year. That timeline assumed that the Council would begin their review and discussion of the legislation at the same time as we continued through the SEPA process, which is expected to be complete in June. We never expected that Council could take action on this package until SEPA was done. Waiting until June to even begin a review of the full package will jeopardize setting up the encampment before next winter.

ARLINGTON, VA - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Arlington County Board today voted to revise the County’s affordable housing goals and targets, adding the prevention/ending of homelessness and sustainable development as goals and adopting targets to meet those goals.

Washington, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) and more than 50 Members of Congress, including Representatives from most of the hardest hit states, sent a letter today to Edward DeMarco, Acting Director of the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA), calling for Fannie and Freddie to take a leadership role in stemming the current foreclosure crisis. In part, the lawmakers write that FHFA has failed to use its influence to effect crucial changes that would slow the continuing decline of the housing market and maximize return to the taxpayer

WASHINGTON, DC - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD)and other Senators from across the country today stood with advocates for homeless veterans to oppose a provision in Republicans’ reckless spending proposal that would cut 10,000 housing vouchers that would keep homeless veterans off the streets next year.

BOISE, ID - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeless Idahoans will continue to have access to essential services through a grant distributed by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA). IHFA has received $2.56 million in Continuum of Care grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will provide permanent and transitional housing for homeless people across Idaho.

Washington, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today joined with Senate Democrats and veterans advocates to condemn a provision in the House Republicans’ budget that would eliminate housing assistance to 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. The Republicans’ proposed cuts could undermine a program that has helped keep thousands of veterans in California off the streets.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) today introduced an amendment in the House Financial Services Committee to H.R. 839, "The HAMP Termination Act of 2011" sponsored by Patrick McHenry (R-NC), whose bill would abolish the “Housing Affordable Modification Program” which was established to assist three to four million homeowners in achieving mortgage modifications. The Maloney Amendment would extend the program to accommodate 500,000 more mortgages before it ends.

NEW YORK, NY - March 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers' Committee) and pro bono counsel Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Davis Polk) filed a lawsuit today on behalf of local homeowners who were scammed by for-profit loan modification companies. Today's complaint - which targets a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud vulnerable homeowners - marks the beginning of a statewide legal campaign to pursue those who exploit New Yorkers affected by the financial crisis

WASHINGTON, DC - March 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced the availability of $600,000 in "Stand Down" grants that will provide an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans with opportunities to reintegrate into society. The grants are being awarded under the department's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program

Las Vegas, NV - March 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger told a gathering of more than 5,000 real estate agents that the worst of the housing crisis has passed. At the annual convention of the global real estate franchisor, Liniger said that the industry must continue to pursue the training that will help homeowners in distress, but should also start planning for a post-crisis environment.

Los Angeles, CA - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Foursquare Foundation announced today its ground breaking for the construction of a new $10 million richly-appointed Foursquare Senior Living residential community in one of Los Angeles’ most historic neighborhoods, Echo Park. Designed by the architectural firm KTGY Group, Inc., this new eco-friendly, pedestrian- and transit-oriented, 1.24-acre urban in-fill redevelopment project replaces some older housing units with 75 affordable senior apartment homes. Situated directly across from Echo Park, one of the city’s most iconic settings, Parkview Living, A Foursquare Senior Living community, will help mitigate the soaring demand for quality affordable housing to active seniors 62 years of age and over. Parkview Living, A Foursquare Senior Living community will be located across the street from the 88-year-old Angelus Temple, which is home to the Foursquare Church.

Boston, MA - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced new funding that will put the city one step closer to his goal of ending long-term homelessness. With an investment from the Citizens Bank Foundation, the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA) has pledged $50,000 to help expand the Boston Public Health Commission’s High Utilizers of Emergency Services (HUES) to Home program, which provides housing and support services for chronically homeless people who are frequent users of the city’s emergency departments.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Due to federal budget cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) applicants will receive lower average payments beginning March 2, 2011.

Washington, DC - February 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, released the following statement today after Republicans on the Committee announced their intention to defund foreclosure prevention programs

February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Gerry Connolly said he is outraged that the House Republican budget cuts passed at 5 am Saturday morning includes the termination of a small but critical program that addresses the urgent nature of homelessness among America’s veterans. Connolly joined other House Democrats and several Republican Congressmen in voting against the House GOP’s Continuing Resolution that makes massive cuts in funding for the federal government until September 30, 2011.

Downtown Los Angeles, CA - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Weingart Center today announced the award of a grant to create business ventures that will provide employment opportunities for the homeless. The sub-grant was awarded by REDF, a California-based organization focused on starting and growing employment-focused social enterprises that provide employment opportunities for individuals facing multiple barriers to employment. REDF received a federal Social Innovation Fund award administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service and by matching private support. Weingart is one of six California nonprofits selected for inclusion in the new initiative

Washington, D.C. - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Scott Brown (R-MA), Mark Begich (D-AK), James Inhofe (R-OK), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Robert Casey (D-PA), and John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced bipartisan leg...

WASHINGTON, DC - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Akinola George, 40, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank/mail fraud in a scheme that led to $2.4 million in losses.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Housing Law Project, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the Housing Justice Network have petitioned the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to stop forcing lenders to give misleading and deceptive information to tenants in foreclosed homes – information that leads tenants to forego rights guaranteed to them by the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairwoman Biggert, Ranking Member Gutierrez and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I appreciate the opportunity to share insights resulting from the Administration’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the most serious housing crisis since the Great Depression.

February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of current homeowners in the New Orleans area say their homes were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Of these, more than four in 10 reported their homes had suffered major damage and required repairs of $15,000 or more for which most owners received federal flood insurance.

Washington, DC - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A report released today on veteran homelessness again points out that veterans are at disproportionately high risk of homelessness. The report, the most accurate assessment of the scope of the problem to date, provides an important benchmark for national efforts to solve this problem