STATEMENT FROM SECRETARY ALPHONSO JACKSON ON FEBRUARY HOUSING STARTS: The Census Bureau and HUD released data today showing that new home construction was up in February. Overall housing starts rose 0.5 percent from January and 15.8 percent compared to February 2004. This is the highest monthly rate since February 1984. Single-family starts were also up 0.3 percent from January to an annual rate of 1.775 million. This is a new monthly record.
"The growth reflected in today's numbers is another indicator that housing still leads the way as our economy continues to rebound. The Bush Administration is committed to building on these accomplishments so that people from every walk of life can have the opportunity to become homeowners," said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "The President's housing initiatives are paving the way for more Americans, particularly minorities, to achieve that dream."
Two years ago, President Bush challenged the nation to create 5.5 million new minority homeowners by the end of this decade. To date, there has been a net increase of 2.2 million minority homeowners, which represents 40 percent of the 5.5 million goal.
HUD's 2006 budget proposes a zero downpayment mortgage option in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that would allow first-time buyers with a strong credit record to finance 100 percent of their home purchase including closing costs. The Budget also proposes a program called Payment Incentives, which would allow borrowers with limited or weak credit histories to purchase homes by initially paying higher mortgage insurance premiums that would gradually be reduced after a period of timely payments. In 2006, these new mortgage programs will help more than 250,000 families to buy a home of their own.
To stimulate the production of affordable homes in distressed communities where such housing is scarce, the Administration is again proposing a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the cost of new construction or rehabilitation. This tax credit targets low-income households earning less than 80 percent of an area's median income.
The 2006 Budget also provides $200 million to fully fund the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI). T his Initiative helps first-time homebuyers with the biggest obstacles to homeownership - the downpayment and closing costs. Since President Bush signed this initiative into law, ADDI has helped more than 3,500 families to purchase their first home. More than half of these new homeowners were minorities.
HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/ and espanol.hud.gov.
HUD No. 05-030 Gayela Bynum (202) 708-0685 hud.gov/news/ For Release Wednesday March 16, 2005
Sunday, March 20, 2005
ALPHONSO JACKSON ON FEBRUARY HOUSING STARTS
0
comments
||
||
TOPOFF 3, counterterrorism exercise
Department of Homeland Security Announces Partnership with the United Kingdom and Canada for TOPOFF 3
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today announced that the United States, United Kingdom and Canada will cooperate in conduct of TOPOFF 3, a Congressionally-mandated counterterrorism exercise for top officials. DHS will conduct the TOPOFF 3 full scale exercise in April 2005, with terrorist attack scenarios staged in Connecticut and New Jersey. Additional activities will occur in related exercises within the United Kingdom (Atlantic Blue) and Canada (Triple Play).
“The TOPOFF exercises are a key piece of the United States homeland security national preparedness efforts. By responding realistically to simulated attacks, we are able to identify our strengths and weaknesses and make our national response system stronger,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. “Our partnerships with the United Kingdom and Canada will further enhance our ability to deal with terrorism on an international level.”
“Our participation is another example of our ongoing commitment to working closely with the United States and international allies such as the United Kingdom to strengthen our ability to deal with international terrorism and its consequences − key objectives of Canada’s National Security Policy and the Smart Border Declaration,” said Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Anne McLellan.
“The threat from international terrorism remains real and serious, and is a worldwide concern. It is vital we make every effort to enhance and develop our resilience to this threat by working closely with our international colleagues. Exercise Atlantic Blue provides an excellent opportunity to do just this, through sharing best practice on emergency planning and response procedures,” said Hazel Blears, U.K. Minister with responsibility for Counter Terrorism and Resilience.
The U.S. TOPOFF 3 exercise is the third of the congressionally directed, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) national exercise series. The first was conducted in May 2000, and TOPOFF 2 was hosted in May 2003 with simulated attacks in Seattle and Chicago.
Previous TOPOFF exercises have allowed the Federal government to test new response plans with State, local, and international partners. TOPOFF 2 was the first exercise of the newly formed DHS, the first exercise of the Principal Federal Official (this concept was subsequently incorporated into the National Response Plan), and the first test of an elevation of the National Threat Condition to RED. The lessons from previous TOPOFF exercises have also helped shape the national preparedness strategy, which calls for development of an integrated Federal-state-local capability of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for extreme events, including terrorism.
To meet the shared international objectives, the TOPOFF 3 full-scale exercise focuses on four critical areas:
- Incident management: To test the full range of existing procedures for domestic incident management of a terrorist event and improve, through practice, top officials’ capabilities in affected countries to respond in partnership
- Intelligence/investigation: To test the handling and flow of operational and time-critical intelligence
- Public information: To practice strategic coordination of media relations and public information following a linked incident Evaluation: To identify lessons learned and promote best practices
0
comments
||
||
