Bob Briscoe, Eugene Planning and Development Department, announced at our Town Hall meeting last week that Eugene had recently received over $600,000 and Springfield over $300,000 through HUD’s new Neighborhood Stabilization program. The money is a grant to be used to purchase foreclosed properties for owner occupied purchases and very low income housing, probably though non profit organizations.
Both cities are currently working on program guidelines that will help in the use of this money, possibly in conjunction with existing programs like the FHA 203k Streamline. Preliminary thoughts about the use of the funds will be for owner occupied purchases in targeted areas in both cities. 25% of the funds must be used for very low income housing and will probably be done through some of the non-profit organizations such as NEDCO or Saint Vincent DePaul, both of whom have been very active in the local area. This program is for owner occupied properties only!
The other 75% could be used a in similar form to the current HAP and SHOP programs as no interest, no payment seconds for the purchase of homes. The HAP and SHOP programs are currently capped at $10,000 and the new programs could have higher amounts available and also have a higher income qualifying threshold. Details are still being worked out as I post this.
The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) is authorized under Title II of the Housing and Recovery Act of 2008. A total of $3.92 billion was allocated to all states, particularly hard-hit areas trying to respond to high foreclosures.
