"The programs and initiatives supported by this funding will aid many Mainers in recognizing their dreams of homeownership," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.
The following have been awarded funding under the Housing Choice Voucher-Family Self Sufficiency (HCV-FSS) grant program:
• $38,637 Westbrook Housing Authority • $50,290 Portland Housing Authority • $74,806 Maine State Housing Authority • $30,909 Augusta Housing Authority • $8,695 Lewiston Housing Authority • $46,364 City of Caribou Housing Authority
This program provides funds to pay the salary of HCV-FSS program coordinators and homeownership program coordinators. The positions assure that program participants are linked to training and support services needed to attain financial freedom and independence.
The following have been awarded funding under the Housing Counseling Program:
• $40,000 to Pine Tree Legal Services, Inc. for predatory lending counseling • $48,894 to Pine Tree Legal Services, Inc. for comprehensive programs • $73,359 to the Maine State Housing Authority for comprehensive programs • $14,450 to Coastal Enterprises, Inc. for predatory lending counseling • $10,010 to Coastal Enterprises, Inc. for homeownership vouchers • $33,260 to Coastal Enterprises, Inc. for comprehensive programs
HUD's Housing Counseling Program supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters, and the homeless. The primary objective of the program is to expand homeownership opportunities and improve access to affordable housing. Counselors provide guidance and advice to help families and individuals improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership. Counselors also help borrowers avoid inflated appraisals, unreasonably high interest rates, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and eventually foreclosure.
Applicants funded through this program may also provide Home Equity Conversion Mortgage counseling to elderly homeowners who are looking to convert equity in their homes into income that can be used to pay for home improvements, medical costs, living expenses, or other expenses.
The following have been awarded funding under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program:
• $220,000 to Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
The purpose of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) is to increase compliance with the Fair Housing Act and with substantially equivalent State and local fair housing laws. The FHIP was established by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 to provide funding to public and private entities formulating or carrying out programs or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.