Hud Secretary Donovan, Senator Reed Announce Recovery Act Funds To Retrofit Affordable Housing In Warwick, R.I.

April 26, 2010 WARWICK, RI - Today, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Senator Jack Reed announced that over 100 apartments in Warwick, R.I. will become

greener and more energy efficient as a result of $1.4 million in Recovery Act funding being awarded to Shalom Apartments, a senior housing development. Secretary Donovan and Senator Reed announced the funding at an event at Shalom.

The award is part of HUD's new Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing, created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Green Retrofit Program is providing $250 million nationally to reduce energy costs, cut water consumption, and improve indoor air quality. Grant awards are being made under this program on a rolling basis.

"This Recovery Act funding will not only improve the quality of life for residents of Shalom Apartments, but will also lower energy costs and create quality green jobs at the same time." said Secretary Donovan. "This is an example of the kind of long-term, fundamental impact the Recovery Act is having on America's economy through clean energy investments."

"I am pleased that Shalom Housing was selected for this federal grant and I applaud Secretary Donovan and the Obama Administration for making smart investments in clean energy technology that will create jobs now and strengthen our energy independence over the long haul," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who supported the Recovery Act funding.

Shalom Housing, a non-profit agency, operates a 101-unit senior housing development in Warwick, RI. The renovations funded with the grant being announced today will enhance quality of life for residents, lower their utility costs by 50 percent and increase energy efficiency. They will also create quality construction-related job opportunities for Rhode Island residents. Retrofits will produce major system upgrades including the installation of a 37-meter Northwind 100 wind turbine to take advantage of Rhode Island's coastal winds to generate 80% of the property's common area electricity, installation of high-efficiency condensing boilers for heat and hot water, installation of high-efficiency refrigerators in all units, replacement of old toilets with low-flush toilets and other water-saving devices, replacement of old petroleum-based vinyl flooring with recycled tile and Marmoleum flooring, and use of low-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants throughout.

Lehigh Valley Area Real Estate Ranks in Top 100 Best Places to Live

April 30, 2010 The borough of Emmaus in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region recently ranked among the top 100

communities in CNN/Money Magazine’s latest “Best Places to Live” list. This hasn’t been Lehigh Valley’s first appearance on this prestigious list; it was also named in 2007. Another Lehigh Valley community, the city of Bethlehem, topped the list as one of the best places to live in 2006. Lehigh Valley real estate specialist, Bob Susko cites "this recent news attracts investors and home buyers to take advantage of the competitively priced real estate, thus increasing local home sales."

“As all these accolades illustrate, the quality of life here in the Lehigh Valley is truly exceptional,” says Lehigh Valley, PA Realtor (http://www.bobsusko.com/lehigh-valley-pa-realtor-s4304.html) Bob Susko. “The region’s high standard of living, apart from its ideal location, is also the main reason behind buyers’ continuing interest in Lehigh Valley homes for sale (http://www.bobsusko.com/lehigh-valley-homes-for-sale-s4303.html).”

As reported in the region’s largest daily, The Morning Call, the Lehigh Valley, PA real estate (http://www.bobsusko.com/) market has been showing positive numbers in recent months, particularly in the number of home sales. These increased by 22.6% in Lehigh and Northampton counties in March 2010, as compared to that of March 2009. The median home price, meanwhile, also showed an increase of 4.7% from February to March 2010, though it’s down by 6.6% compared to last year’s figures.

“The Lehigh Valley area hasn’t been immune from the effects of the recession,” says Susko, “and the rise in home sales in recent months may be mostly due to the Home Buyer Tax Credit, but the fact remains that this has long been one of the most desirable places to live in the state and the country as a whole.”

Hud Secretary Announces Nearly $24 Million To The New York City Housing Authority To Protect Rental Assistance Vouchers

April 16, 2010 NEW YORK - U.S. Housing and Urban

Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is among nearly 600 public housing agencies that will receive additional funding to support families currently participating in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program. NYCHA will receive nearly $24 million that will allow the agency to continue supporting approximately 2,500 families.

"This added funding will help NYCHA and housing agencies across the country," said Donovan at the Minister's Luncheon for the National Action Network 2010 Convention today. "This additional funding will help NYCHA continue to provide affordable housing for New Yorkers in need."

The funding announced today is part of a $150 million set-aside from HUD's 2010 budget that will give public housing agencies additional funding that will help them support existing vouchers. Last February HUD issued a notice informing public housing agencies that they could apply for this funding under the following four categories:

Category (1): to adjust the allocations for agencies that experienced a significant increase in renewal costs of rental assistance resulting from unforeseen circumstances or from families moving to higher cost areas

Category (2): for adjustment for agencies with voucher leasing rates at the end of 2009 that exceed the average leasing for federal fiscal year 2009 12-month period used to establish the allocation;

Category (3): for adjustments for the costs associated with Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers; and

Category (4): for vouchers that were not in use during the Federal fiscal year 12- month period in order to be available to meet a commitment for project-based voucher assistance.

HUD reviewed approximately 1,000 submissions from agencies across the U.S. and awarded funding based on HUD's categories. Housing agencies that applied for funding will receive notifications of application status today. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is HUD's largest rental assistance program, with an $18,184,200,000 budget for 2010. The program supports approximately 2.1 million families through rental assistance payments that make housing more affordable.