November 2008 Bulletins
PRESTON ANNOUNCES $2.1 BILLION IN DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO 13 STATES AND PUERTO RICO IMPACTED BY 2008 STORMS
Released 11/26/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON - Recognizing the tremendous unmet housing, economic and infrastructure needs following this year's natural disasters, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today announced HUD will immediately allocate more than $2.1 billion to 13 States and Puerto Rico. The emergency funding is provided through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and will support the States' long-term disaster recovery. Full release
Missile Strike Kills Wanted Militants
Released 11/22/08 by Military.Com
A suspected U.S. missile strike killed five militants in a Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold in northwestern Pakistan officials said. There were unconfirmed reports that the dead included Rashid Rauf, a British citizen linked to an alleged plot to down trans-Atlantic jetliners who escaped from Pakistani custody last year. Full release
BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES FLEXIBILITY FOR "HOPE FOR HOMEOWNERS" PROGRAM
Released 11/19/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today announced that the HOPE for Homeowners (H4H) Board of Directors has approved changes to the program to help more distressed borrowers refinance into affordable, government-back mortgages. The changes will reduce the program costs for consumers and lenders alike while also expanding eligibility by driving down the borrower's monthly mortgage payments. Full release
VA Seeks to Ease GI Bill Concerns
Released 11/19/08 by Military.Com
Full release
HOUSING COUNSELING INDUSTRY RESPONDING TO MORTGAGE CRISIS
Released 11/13/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON - Housing counseling agencies all across the country are experiencing surging demand for their services, especially among families hoping to avoid losing their homes through foreclosure. According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, beginning in 2005, individuals and families increasingly sought counseling to address mortgage delinquencies. Secretary Steve Preston announced the report at a HUD-sponsored roundtable discussion with more than two dozen housing counseling agencies from across the country. Full release
HUD ISSUES NEW MORTGAGE RULES TO HELP CONSUMERS SHOP FOR LOWER COST HOME LOANS
Released 11/12/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON - For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today issued long-anticipated mortgage reforms that will help consumers to shop for the lowest cost mortgage and avoid costly and potentially harmful loan offers. HUD will require, for the first time ever, that lenders and mortgage brokers provide consumers with a standard Good Faith Estimate (GFE) that clearly discloses key loan terms and closing costs. HUD estimates its new regulation will save consumers nearly $700 at the closing table. Full release
HUD ANNOUNCES NEW, PERMANENT FHA MORTGAGE LOAN LIMITS
Released 11/10/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today announced the new Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loan limits for single-family homes as prescribed by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Full release
General Bucks Silence on Mental Health
Released 11/8/08 by Military.Com
It takes a brave soldier to do what Army Maj. Gen. David Blackledge did in Iraq. It takes as much bravery to do what he did when he got home. Blackledge got psychiatric counseling to deal with wartime trauma, and now he is defying the military's culture of silence. Full release
STATEMENT BY HUD SECRETARY STEVE PRESTON ON TRANSITION EFFORTS
Released 11/6/08 by HUD
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Steve Preston today issued the following statement reaffirming the agency's commitment to a seamless transition of operations to the next Administration. Preston has made a smooth transition a priority of his iMPACT 200 agenda. Full release
