National

(BRIEFS) Oregon Biz Development Hosting CDBG Workshops
   Oregon: Oregon's Business Development Dept. is hosting the first of a series of three Community Development Block Grant workshops free of charge to provide a detailed review of the program and federal requirements relating to public works water and wastewater system projects. The workshops start Oc...
posted 9/21/09 5:29 PM  read complete story

(HUD) Deadlines Set for Lead Paint, Environmental Housing Grant Applications
   HUD sets November deadlines for those eligible to compete for more than $10 million combined through three competitive grant programs designed to protect children from lead-based paint hazards and battle other housing-based environmental issues. Anywhere between 28 and 51 grantees can be expected t...
posted 9/21/09 5:24 PM  read complete story

(STIMULUS) HUD Awards 36 PHAs Competitive Public Housing Capital Fund Grants
   Thirty-six public housing agencies (PHAs) can use green materials and technology to create more energy-efficient public housing after receiving a combined $300 million in competitive Public Housing Capital Fund (PHCF) grants from HUD. Secy. Shaun Donovan makes the Sept. 18 announcement in Denver, w...
posted 9/18/09 4:59 PM  read complete story

(LEGISLATION) FHA Bills Quietly Pass Through House
   In the shadow of the healthcare reform debate, arguments regarding the interruption of President Barack Obama's health reform speech, and furor over financing of ACORN, the House quickly and quietly approves two major housing measures. The proposed 21st Century FHA Housing Act of 2009 (HR 3146) and...
posted 9/18/09 3:47 PM  read complete story

(HOMELESS) Use of Motels a Financial Strain
   Homeless families living in motels at state expense are costing Massachusetts nearly $3 million a month, the state Dept. of Housing & Community Development (HCD) tells a legislative committee. The state has 1,010 families, including more than 1,400 children, living in motels. HCD assumed respon...
posted 9/18/09 3:41 PM  read complete story

(SENATE) Lawmakers Pass HUD FY 2010 Budget, Clears CDBG, Homeless Grant Hikes
   The Senate passes HUD's fiscal year 2010 budget Sept. 17, paving the way for increases in the Community Development Block Grant and other community development-related programs. The $48-billion Senate bill (H.R. 3288) passed 73-25. It now faces a conference committee discussion that will determine ...
posted 9/17/09 5:08 PM  read complete story

(CHAIRMAN) House Financial Services Chairman Frank Says CRA Markup Will Be Next Year
   The House Financial Services Committee will not mark up a bill to reauthorize and amend the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) until early next year, Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) tells CDD during a Sept. 16 hearing examining proposals to enhance the law. "We've got to do financial regulatory reform fi...
posted 9/16/09 7 PM  read complete story

(SENATE) Three Brownfields Project Earmarks Face Sept. 17 Vote in HUD Budget Bill
   Senate amendments to its version of the HUD fiscal year 2010 budget bill (H. 3288) are expected to be voted on early Sept. 17, with a vote to the full bill likely thereafter. The bill debate has been moving slowly. Most of the amendments deal with the transportation side of the bill, and no attempt...
posted 9/16/09 6:47 PM  read complete story

(COURTS) NJ City Ends Long Effort to Take Oceanfront Properties to Build Condos
   For homeowners in Long Branch, NJ, their battle to keep homes threatened with eminent domain by city officials are over this week, after the city decided to reach an agreement not to take them and put oceanfront condominiums in their place. The Institute for Justice (IJ), an Arlington, VA-based gro...
posted 9/15/09 8:32 PM  read complete story

(BUDGET) Senate Keeps ACORN from HUD Funds; Final HUD Budget Vote Likely Sept. 16
   The embattled nonprofit Assn. of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) suffers the threat of no longer having access to HUD community development dollars, after the Senate overwhelmingly passes an amendment to the HUD budget bill. The matter will be part of conference committee debate when ...
posted 9/14/09 8:52 PM  read complete story