WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded an additional $9,322,756 million in funding to Connecticut communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis. The grants announced today represent a third round of funding through HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program(NSP) and will provide targeted emergency assistance to help local communities in Connecticut acquire, redevelop or demolish foreclosed properties. (See below for a complete list of Connecticut funding)
“These grants will build on local efforts to reverse the effects these foreclosed properties have on their surrounding neighborhoods,” said Donovan. “We wanted to make certain that we targeted these funds to those places with especially high foreclosure activity so we can help turn the tide in our battle against abandonment and blight. This investment will reduce blight, bolster neighboring home values, create jobs and produce affordable housing.”
“Putting people to work, saving buildings, creating housing and stabilizing neighborhoods is what this program is all about,” said Richard A. Walega, HUD New England Regional Administrator. “HUD will work each and every day to help workers, families and communities make sure this funding has a meaningful impact.”
“Bridgeport was especially hard hit by the recent economic downturn, and these funds provide welcome relief that will help the city and its residents recover,” said Congressman Jim Himes. "Stemming foreclosures is an absolutely critical piece of our comprehensive effort to turn the economy around. These funds will help Bridgeport build on its recent successes in this area, create job opportunities, and produce quality, affordable housing for its residents while reducing the impact the foreclosures could have on the city and region's economic health."
The funding announced today is provided under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. To date, there have been two other rounds of NSP funding: $3.92 billion appropriated through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) and an additional $2 billion appropriated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Like those earlier rounds of NSP grants, these targeted funds will be used to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and to rehabilitate or redevelop them in order to respond to rising foreclosures, abandoned homes, and falling home values. Today, 95 cents of every dollar from the first round of NSP funding is obligated – and is in use by communities, buying up and renovating homes, and creating jobs.
State and local governments can use their neighborhood stabilization grants to acquire land and property; to demolish or rehabilitate abandoned properties; and/or to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers (household incomes not exceed 120 percent of area median income). In addition, these grantees can create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging re-use or redevelopment of urban property. HUD will issue an NSP3 guidance notice in the next few weeks to assist grantees in designing their programs and applying for funds.
NSP 3 will take full advantage of the historic First Look partnership Secretary Donovan announced with the National Community Stabilization Trust last week. First Look gives NSP grantees an exclusive 12-14 day window to evaluate and bid on properties before others can do so. By giving every NSP grantee the first crack at buying foreclosed and abandoned properties in these targeted neighborhoods, First Look will maximize the impact of NSP dollars in the hardest-hit neighborhoods – making it more likely the properties communities want to buy are strategically chosen and cutting in half the traditional 75-to-85 day process it takes to re-sell foreclosed properties.
NSP also seeks to prevent future foreclosures by requiring housing counseling for families receiving homebuyer assistance. HUD seeks to protect future homebuyers by requiring States and local grantees to ensure that new homebuyers under NSP receive homeownership counseling and obtain a mortgage loan from a lender who agrees to comply with sound lending practices.
In determining the allocations announced today, HUD, as it did with NSP1, followed key indicators for the distribution formula outlined by Congress. HUD is using the latest data to implement the Congressional formula. The formula weighs several factors to match funding to need in the 20 percent most distressed neighborhoods as determined based on the number and percentage of home foreclosures, the number and percentage of homes financed by a subprime mortgage related loan, and the number and percentage of homes in delinquency. To estimate the level of need down to the neighborhood level, HUD uses a model that takes into account causes of foreclosures and delinquencies, which include housing price declines from peak levels, and increases in unemployment, and rate of high cost and highly leveraged loans. HUD also considers vacancy problems in neighborhoods with severe foreclosure related problems.
In addition to a third round of NSP funding, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act creates a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program to be administered by HUD. This loan program will provide up to 24 months in mortgage assistance to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition. HUD will announce additional details, including the targeted communities and other program specifics when the program is officially launched in the coming weeks.
CONNECTICUT GRANTEE NSP3 GRANT
Bridgeport $1,215,150
State of Connecticut $5,000,000
Hartford $1,029,926
New Haven $1,041,579
Waterbury $1,036,101
State Total:
HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov andespanol.hud.gov.
CONNECTICUT GRANTEE NSP3 GRANT
Bridgeport $1,215,150
State of Connecticut $5,000,000
Hartford $1,029,926
New Haven $1,041,579
Waterbury $1,036,101
State Total: $9,322,756