January 2008 Bulletins
HUD TAKES ACTION AGAINST FLEETWOOD HOMES OF CALIFORNIA
Released 1/30/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has taken action against a major builder of manufactured homes by requiring it to recertify its Woodland, California plant. In a settlement announced today, Fleetwood Homes of California has agreed to a HUD-monitored recertification process for its Woodland plant. The company must also provide notification and correction of defects to its consumers, and pay a civil money penalty. Full release
JACKSON AND DALEY STRESS FORECLOSURE PREVENTION IN CHICAGO
Released 1/30/08 by HUD
CHICAGO - Foreclosure does not have to be inevitable. That was the message from U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley today as they encouraged residents to attend a city-sponsored "Borrower Outreach Day." Jackson and Daley visited the Tuley Park Field House where the city will be holding a workshop later today to support, educate, and assist homeowners in need of help keeping their homes. Full release
JACKSON DELIVERS $49 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOMELESS PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO
Released 1/29/08 by HUD
CHICAGO - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today presented Chicago Mayor Richard Daley with $49 million in grants to support more than 150 homeless programs in the Windy City. The grants announced today will support the full spectrum or "continuum of care" for homeless individuals and families - from street outreach and emergency shelter to transitional and permanent housing. Jackson made the presentation at a Northside apartment complex that provides permanent supporting housing to homeless persons with disabilities. Full release
HUD LAUNCHES INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE MDHA SECTION 8 PROGRAM
Released 1/29/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that new initiatives are being put in place to improve communications and service with private landlords and residents who participate in the Miami-Dade Housing Agency’s (MDHA) Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) program. Full release
HUD, EPA AND U.S. ATTORNEY IN MINNESOTA ANNOUNCE LEGAL SETTLEMENT WITH MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL LANDLORDS
Released 1/28/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota today announced a legal settlement with nine Minneapolis-St. Paul area property owners and one property management company. The government alleges these landlords failed to inform tenants that their homes might contain potentially dangerous levels of lead in violation of the federal disclosure rules. Full release
THOUSANDS OF TEXANS TO BENEFIT FROM AFFORDABLE, GOVERNMENT APPROVED MORTGAGE PLAN
Released 1/25/08 by HUD
SAN ANTONIO, TX - More than 18,000 Texas families could be eligible for a safer, more affordable government-insured mortgage that is pending approval by the U.S. Congress, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced today. A bipartisan legislative proposal awaiting final Congressional action would help borrowers refinance their existing exotic subprime loans or purchase new homes through HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Full release
3,200 Marines Prepare for Afghan Tour
Released 1/15/08 by Military.Com
About 3,200 Marines are being told to prepare to go to Afghanistan - a move that will boost combat troop levels in time for an expected Taliban offensive this spring. But the move also comes as NATO allies have balked at increasing their own troop levels in Afghanistan. Full release
HUD REPORTS PROGRESS IN "OPERATION FEDRENT"
Released 1/10/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON – Federal employees who fail to report their income to qualify for housing assistance they would not otherwise be eligible for stand to lose their jobs, pay steep fines and face possible criminal penalties. That's the stern warning issued today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as it reported that an ongoing joint investigation has so far produced 34 indictments, 13 convictions, and recovered $541,813. Full release
U.S.-Iraqi Forces Hit Al-Qaida in North
Released 1/8/08 by Military.Com
U.S. and Iraqi forces on Jan. 8 launched a new assault against al-Qaida militants in Iraq and "other extremist elements," a senior American commander announced. Full release
Iraq Rivals May Give Peace a Chance
Released 1/4/08 by Military.Com
Representatives of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr met Jan. 3 with officials from his chief rival's party in an effort to cement a tenuous peace agreement the two signed in October after violent clashes between their followers. Full release
