Homeless & Crisis Assistance

June 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building on his commitment to strengthen employment, economic opportunities and services for California’s veterans and their families, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today launched Operation Welcome Home, a first-in-the-nation, statewide campaign to connect every returning veteran with the services they need to transition successfully from the battlefront to the home front.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that nearly 8,000 homeless veterans will get permanent housing assistance through a HUD rental assistance program that connects homeless veterans from local Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) with rental assistance vouchers provided by local public housing agencies. HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with $58.6 million in funding specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area.

Washington, DC - June 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) announced today that the Waterbury and West Haven Housing Authorities have been awarded HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers. The Waterbury Housing Authority will receive $188,526, and the West Haven Housing Authority will receive $196,470, part of $58,627,081 in housing support for homeless veterans being awarded nationwide

Washington, DC - June 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today NeighborWorks America announced a series of consumer outreach efforts to support affordable, sustainable and healthy homes and communities during the 2010 National Homeownership Month.

Dayton, OH - June 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of National NeighborWorks Week (June 5-12, 2010), St. Mary Development Corporation has launched ThankfulHome.tv, a Web site with the motto: “Be thankful for your home. Help others find a decent place to live.”

Destin, FL - June 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite being the worst deflationary downturn since the Great Depression, housing markets are showing improvement as the number of homes in default drops, according to new report on Housing Predictor.

Las Vegas, NV - May 31, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) - The following summarizes the ways to avoid foreclosure but not keep the home. Even though you may not be able to keep your home, it is important to work with your servicer during this process. Walking away from your home without consulting with your servicer may result in a foreclosure reported in your credit file, tax consequences, and/or a deficiency balance for loan proceeds not recovered in a foreclosure sale. If keeping your home is not a viable option, your loan servicer may have alternatives available to absolve the mortgage and home

May 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- When the temperatures soar and the hot summer days are upon us, many homeless people who live on the streets do not have their basic needs met. The city of Phoenix is asking people to donate the following items - unopened water bottles, sunscreen, new underwear, white socks, white T-shirts, insect repellent and pre-packaged snack items such as individually wrapped cookies and crackers - that will be distributed to the homeless

Las Vegas, NV - May 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coldwell Banker Wardley Las Vegas Real Estate, specializing in Las Vegas Short Sales, is negotiating a deal with a lender to accept a “short” amount on Las Vegas Real Estate, saving the sellers from being another Las Vegas Foreclosure statistic

Las Vegas, NV - May 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coldwell Banker Wardley Las Vegas Real Estate, specializing in Las Vegas Short Sales, is negotiating a deal with a lender to accept a “short” amount on Las Vegas Real Estate, saving the sellers from being another Las Vegas Foreclosure statistic

Las Vegas, NV - May 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners who are facing Las Vegas foreclosure can request that Richard Ballen, A successful Las Vegas Short Sale Agent, Henderson Short Sale Agent, and North Las Vegas Short Sale Specialist consult with them about their needs. In addition, Ballen has created a custom hardship package allowing the homeowner to complete the documents required by the bank to ease the process. Although Richard Ballen, a Coldwell Banker Wardley Realtor, never encourages a Las Vegas Short Sale, many homeowners in Las Vegas and surrounding areas are facing true hardships that force them to attempt a Short Sale rather than face Las Vegas Foreclosure.

CHARLOTTE, NC - May 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bank of America today released the first-year results of its 10-year, $1.5 trillion community development goal to lend and invest in underserved communities. Initiated in 2009 as the largest community development goal ever established by a U.S. financial institution, Bank of America provided $168.2 billion in community development lending and investments primarily benefitting low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and minority customers in the first year. This result exceeded annual expectations despite adverse economic conditions, and translates, on average, to nearly $667 million every business day throughout the past year.

New York, NY - May 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Multiple factors including poor data, incomplete performance metrics, and, short-term focus and unrealistic optimism among senior business managers contributed to the collapse in the US housing and mortgage markets, according to a study released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

WASHINGTON, DC - May 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $750,000 grant competition aimed at supporting Department of Labor grantees that provide employment services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless

Destin, FL - May 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Apparently feeling the bottom of the housing market may be getting closer, nearly 2 out of 3 people surveyed say they plan on buying a home or other real estate in the next two years, according to a new Housing Predictor survey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the United States Senate passed a financial reform bill . A last minute managers amendment from Senator Dodd has not been made public yet, but based on the details of the bill known earlier today, John Taylor, president and CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), made the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Eric Shinseki, to discuss how to meet the needs of the estimated 1,500 veterans that go homeless every night in Illinois. Secretary Shinseki is scheduled to testify tomorrow at a joint hearing of two Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on his plan to reduce the number of homeless veterans in the United States by half over the next two years and completely by 2014

Destin, FL - May 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The worst housing markets forecast by Housing Predictor in 2010 are projected to do better than what was first forecast at the beginning of the year, according to the latest update of the worst 25 markets.

OWENSBORO, KY - May 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- First Lady Jane Beshear, along with Department for Local Government (DLG) Commissioner Tony Wilder and Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Chief Executive Officer Richard L. McQuady, participated in a ribbon-cutting event today for Owensboro Regional Recovery, Ltd., one of ten recovery centers that works to reduce the state’s drug and homelessness problems. Owensboro Regional Recovery, Ltd., will provide counseling, support, and hope for up to 100 men at a time who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. House passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (HR 5019) today, legislation that will spur job growth in the construction, manufacturing, and retail industries by giving families incentives to make their homes more energy efficient. The measure is projected to create 168,000 jobs across the U.S. and save 3 million families an estimated $200-$500 per year over the next 10 years ($9.2 billion total) by making their homes more energy efficient.

Chicago, IL - May 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The commercial real estate market is experiencing its worst liquidity challenge in almost 20 years, and it is vital that Congress take action to prevent a deepening crisis, the National Association of Realtors® said in testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations today

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - May 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell and the Division of Housing and Community Development will release the results of a snapshot survey showing Utah’s homeless population during a press conference on Friday, May 14 at 10:30 a.m. in room 240 of the State Capitol.

Destin, FL - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A large majority say the expiration of the federal home buyers tax credit is likely to damage the housing market, according to a new opinion poll by Housing Predictor.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Over the past year, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) has hosted numerous conversations with faith communities as part of its "Faith and Credit" program. In a letter delivered to Senators today, sixteen Christian leaders with decades of experience providing housing services and financial counseling urged legislators to enact reforms that protect against abusive lending practices targeting low-income households.

Tampa, FL - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has updated the state-by-state overview of land use planning laws on the IBHS Web site

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- By July 1, all mortgage servicers participating in the Making Home Affordable Program will offer extra help for homeowners struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments because of unemployment. The Unemployment Program will offer homeowners a forbearance period to temporarily reduce or suspend their monthly mortgage payments while they seek re-employment.

ANDOVER, MA - May 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) officials have heard it all when it comes to homeowners who tell them why they aren’t going to apply for a low-interest disaster loan.

Washington, DC - May 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich today held a roundtable discussion between state and local officials, housing advocates and representatives of the Treasury Department. Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herb Allison came to Northeast Ohio at the request of Kucinich in order to understand how federal efforts to help prevent foreclosure can be improved to meet Ohio’s needs. The meeting enabled more than 50 state and local officials to weigh in on the implementation guidelines that Treasury is currently writing.

BEAVER, W. Va. - May 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After a major disaster, state and local governments look for ways to protect lives and property in case another event occurs. This is called “hazard mitigation.”

WASHINGTON, DC - May 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today joined state and federal officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Paterson Park Apartments, an 18-unit complex that will provide affordable housing to homeless and disabled veterans.