U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced last week that HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to seven counties in Georgia and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and flooding.
Prior to Donovan's announcement, President Obama had issued a disaster declaration for Carroll, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Stephens counties. Obama's declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in this county.
HUD is offering the state of Georgia the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources to disaster relief. HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the state the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for flood victims.
HUD is currently contacting state and local officials to explore streamlining the department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing.
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HUD has also granted immediate foreclosure relief, imposing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages. The agency is additionally making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development