Deceptive Home Improvement Contractors Complaints

Some deceptive contractors in the program were performing shoddy work, falsifying documents, and overcharging homeowners. This fraud had victimized thousands of families and cost the taxpayers millions of dollars.

To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, work only with a HUD-approved Title 1 lender. This allows you to select the contractor and helps to prevent inflated estimates that only increase costs.

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Authorizing the Use and Rental of Government Property

This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for contractor use and rental of Government property.

Government property shall normally be provided on a rent-free basis in performance of the contract under which it is accountable or otherwise authorized.

Rental charges, to the extent authorized do not apply to Government property that is left in place or installed on contractor-owned property for mobilization or future Government production purposes; however, rental charges shall apply to that portion of property or its capacity used for non-government commercial purposes or otherwise authorized for use.

The contracting officer cognizant of the Government property may authorize the rent-free use of property in the possession of nonprofit organizations when used for research, development, or educational work and—

The use of the property is in the national interest;

The property will not be used for the direct benefit of a profit-making organization; and

The Government receives some direct benefit, such as rights to use the results of the work without charge, from its use.

In exchange for consideration as determined by the cognizant contracting officer(s), the contractor may use Government property under fixed-price contracts other than the contract to which it is accountable. When, after contract award, a contractor requests the use of Government property, the contracting officer shall obtain a fair rental or other adequate consideration if use is authorized.

The cognizant contracting officer(s) may authorize the use of Government property on a rent-free basis on a cost type Government contract other than the contract to which it is accountable.

In exchange for consideration as determined by the cognizant contracting officer, the contractor may use Government property for commercial use. Prior approval of the Head of the Contracting Activity is required where non-Government use is expected to exceed 25 percent of the total use of Government and commercial work performed.

House Speaker Bauer says governor's plan provides some tax relief

Indiana House Democrats entered the 2008 legislative session committed to one goal: providing broad-based property tax relief. It has been a goal we have worked on for two years, and we have worked together with Republicans to find a bipartisan solution.

Hoosiers demanded action on the Governor's program, and it has been delivered.


There are provisions in House Bill 1001 that will help property taxpayers immediately. The relief contained in this legislation, combined with the second phase of the property tax cuts approved in a bipartisan manner in 2007, will cut property taxes by nearly $900 million this year.

When the governor first announced his program, House Democrats were the first to raise concerns about how his tax shift would harm working families, seniors and renters.

The final agreement contained in House Bill 1001 largely protects these people. We have increased the Earned Income Tax Credit and the renter's deduction, and helped seniors living on fixed incomes who deserve the chance to keep their homes.

Although the plan undoubtedly provides help in 2008, it may not be the final answer. The 600-page House Bill 1001 is a major shift to state funding that carries an enormous price tag, and there is great risk due to the state of our nation's economy and its impact on the state's treasury.

We will have the next eight months to see if the governor's plan is sustainable. I worry that this grand experiment might not provide ever-lasting property tax relief. It could lead to income tax increase and cuts in both education and public safety. I sincerely hope that local governments and schools will be able to adapt to the tax caps without creating crises in our communities.

The governor's plan does provide some answers. But there will be new questions and unintended consequences, and House Democrats stand ready to solve these problems as they arise.

Housing Assistance - Purchasing

The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds housing counseling agencies throughout the country. These agencies can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues and reverse mortgages.

In addition, HUD's Homeownership Voucher Program expands the purpose of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which provides subsidies for all or part of a rental payment. The Homeownership Voucher Program gives low-income families that are first-time homebuyers the option of using their Voucher subsidy toward owning a home rather than renting. For additional information about this program, please contact your local Public Housing Agency (PHA).

If you are a rural resident, you may also want to contact your local Rural Development (RD) office. These offices can provide assistance to rural residents through the Rural Housing Service.

Owners With Violating Fair Housing Act

A converted warehouse, Lofts at the Mill consists of 74 residential apartment units. Gerard Joyce is the owner and manager of the Lofts at the Mill and Normandy Holdings. During 2005 and 2006, the property manager ran several ads in newspapers and on the Internet, which advertised the property as "21 and over." After viewing these advertisements, a local fair housing group contacted Danny Joyce, the property manager, to inform him that the language violated the Fair Housing Act because it prohibits families with children from living or renting at the Mill. Despite this warning, Danny Joyce refused to change the advertising.

Upon learning of the discriminatory content of the advertisements, the Department of Housing and Urban Development exercised its authority to initiate complaints when no individual came forward to file a complaint. As part of its investigation, HUD utilized undercover testers to determine whether the mangers refused to rent to families with children.

I just want to let you know that if you decide to move in, your daughter will be the only child in here. Another tester was given a brochure that contained the statement, "The Mill is an apartment community catering to young professionals and all occupants must be twenty-one years or older." In March 2007 during an on-site interview with HUD, Danny Joyce confirmed that no children currently resided at the Mill, and that he personally informed potential applicants that they could not live at the Mill because of their children.

Direct Sales Monitoring

Periodically, FHA will perform field reviews of nonprofit agencies as part of its ongoing quality control activities. Therefore, FHA may contact a nonprofit agency and request the following information, which may include, but is not limited to:

* Documentation regarding the nonprofit agency's progress in implementing its affordable housing program
* Access to properties which are under development, resold or leased or otherwise a part of the nonprofit agency's affordable housing program
* Access to the nonprofits office(s) to determine compliance with FHA ML#2002-01 "Adequate Facilities".

All requests by FHA will be made in writing and provide the nonprofit agency with the time to accommodate such requests. Failure to respond to a review request may result in removal from FHA's nonprofit roster.

Predatory Lending

Over the last several years, our nation has made enormous progress in expanding access to capital for previously under served borrowers. Despite this progress, however, too many families are suffering today because of a growing incidence of abusive practices in a segment of the mortgage lending market. Predatory mortgage lending practices strip borrowers of home equity and threaten families with foreclosure, destabilizing the very communities that are beginning to enjoy the fruits of our nation’s economic success.

Since the Spring of 1999, HUD has been actively involved in combating predatory lending through research, regulation, consumer education and enforcement actions against lenders, appraisers, real estate brokers, and other companies and individuals that have victimized homebuyers.

If you believe you have been a victim of predatory lending practices there are Federal agencies that can help. Please refer to the list of agencies below and contact the organization or agency that you think can help address your specific problem.

Buying property

Buying a home will probably be the most expensive things you ever do, so it’s important to be well informed about the buying process and the property market.

With so much money at stake, every decision is an important one. Below is a list of topics that you should explore before deciding on a property.

Before you begin the process of buying a home, it not only makes sense to look around at a range of properties, it is also important that you prepare yourself well by exploring and understanding your financial options as well as your legal rights and responsibilities.

By law, a residential property cannot be put on the market until a sale contract has been drawn up. You have the right to examine the contract at any time during the buying process, even before you make an offer.

FLORIDA HOMELESS PROGRAM

For the past 11 years, HUD and the American Planning Association (APA) have recognized model programs which improve employment, education, housing opportunities, mobility and the standard of living for lower income persons. The HUD Secretary’s Award was presented today during APA’s National Planning Conference in Las Vegas.

“The Clara White Mission proves that good planning can improve the lives of people,” said HUD Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi. “This program recognizes that good minds, working together, have a real impact on the lives of people who might otherwise be living on our streets.”

In presenting the award, HUD Assistant Secretary Darlene Williams added, “It is never easy to decide on one winner, given the high quality of so many nominations. But there could hardly be a more appropriate choice for this year’s HUD Secretary’s Opportunity and Empowerment Award.”

HUD and APA’s selection of The Clara White Mission is in recognition of the nonprofit organization’s work to create a diverse network of public and private funding sources including the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, the Duvall County Housing Finance Authority and the Florida Department of Children and Families. More specifically, the Mission was recognized for transforming an old soup kitchen into a 36-unit facility that provides affordable housing, job training, child care, and a variety of other personal and family services.