DSNews delivers stories, ideas, links, companies, people, events, and videos impacting the mortgage default servicing industry.
Issue link: http://digital.dsnews.com/i/1518663
April 2024 » thefivestar.com 71 April 2024 J O U R N A L Continued Efforts to Assist the Housing Space The Biden administration recently released details on how it will build more housing and lower housing costs nation- wide through a series of initiatives by bolstering federal programs with a track record of producing affordable housing; boosting the supply and affordability of manufactured homes; and promoting a more fair and transparent rental market. The Biden administration's latest actions seek to build upon the dozens of commitments in the White House Housing Supply Action Plan released last May, and the Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, released last January. The administration recognized that additional actions were necessary to lower housing costs and has called on Congress to make the investments necessary to ensure access to quality and affordable housing for all Americans. "Simply put, the supply of housing has not kept pace with increasing de- mand, making housing too expensive for far too many people. HUD is using every single tool we have to ensure the families we serve can access affordable homes," HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman said. "Today's announcement means that, together with our partners at the Department of the Treasury, HUD will be able to continue providing the capital needed to build and preserve tens of thousands of rental units for the families who need our help." HUD GRANTS NEARLY $3M TO EXPAND HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES ACCESS T he U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling an- nounced that it provided $2.75 million in grants to seven nonprofit organizations to support training and education for existing and prospective HUD-certified housing counselors. "Our nation's housing counselors are important to helping people of all back- grounds get the guidance and resources they need to buy and maintain a home," former HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said. "HUD is proud to help support cur- rent and prospective housing counselors, so they have all the tools they need to assist those in pursuit of the American Dream." This comes after Fudge, the 18th Sec- retary of HUD announced her resigna- tion as head of the Department, effective March 22, 2024. As President-Elect, Joe Biden nominated Fudge as Secretary of HUD on December 10, 2020. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced her nomination by a vote of 17-7 on February 4, 2021, and she was confirmed by the Senate as HUD Secretary on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 66-34. She was virtually sworn in by VP Kamala Harris on March 10, 2021, becom- ing the second African American woman to serve as HUD Secretary. "Knowledgeable housing counselors are instrumental to helping households make informed choices about their financial options," said Julia Gordon, As- sistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner. "We are pleased to support these organizations that are so vital to ensuring that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing." Nonprofit organizations receiving funding awards: » National Association of Real Estate Brokers-Investment Division, Inc,