WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - January 11, 2011) - NeighborWorks® America and members of the NeighborWorks® network were recently awarded more than $7 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Department's grants to support housing counseling and housing counselor training.
Specifically, the NeighborWorks® Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) was awarded $3.05 million to continue its work in promoting counseling standards and building the skill capacity of nonprofit housing organizations along with administering the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. NeighborWorks® America is the largest trainer and certifier of community development and housing professionals.
NeighborWorks® America also was awarded $1.58 million for comprehensive housing counseling. This counseling helps to create homeowners who are less likely to experience mortgage default. Counseling provides consumers with high-quality information about mortgage products and budgeting, which increases the sustainability of affordable homeownership. These funds will be used to support the homeownership counseling activity of members of the NeighborWorks® network.
In addition, NeighborWorks® America received $300,000 for HECM counseling, a growing part of the national housing counseling framework designed to help senior citizens make informed mortgage choices.
Finally, $2.3 million was awarded to more than 60 NeighborWorks® network organizations around the U.S. committed to providing affordable homeownership solutions to low- and moderate-income families.
"NeighborWorks® is committed to providing the best and most comprehensive housing counseling services available," said Eileen Fitzgerald, acting CEO for NeighborWorks® America. "Counselors trained to high standards who deliver important, relevant and timely information about housing to consumers are critical to building strong communities. We're excited that HUD has recognized the scale and capacity of NeighborWorks® America and the NeighborWorks® network to deliver these necessary services to communities all across America."
About NeighborWorks® America
NeighborWorks® America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
Contact Information:
Douglas Robinson
(202) 220-2360
(202) 870-3583– cell
drobinson@nw.org