Archive for July, 2009
HUD and the City of El Paso Agree to Increase Accessible Housing
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP), Texas, signed an agreement that will create at least 289 accessible housing units for persons with disabilities. The voluntary agreement will make at least five percent of the El Paso Housing Authority’s housing stock fully accessible.
The Agreement stems from an April, 2008 HUD review that included an accessibility inspection of housing units, administrative offices and common areas, and an analysis of the agency’s policies and procedures. HUD also reviewed management of applicant waiting lists, applications, maintenance records, and reasonable accommodation requests.
Add comment July 30, 2009
Austin-Area Establishments Face Lawsuit
Four Austin clubs and restaurants face civil suits over their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. KVUE’s Elise Hu reports.
Add comment July 28, 2009
Selling Cable Through Illegal Channels
SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – San Marcos police are looking for a man they believe is tapping into Grande Communications lines and selling apartment residents stolen cable.
Jesse Martinez did not understand why Grande Communications had a salesman and installer driving the neighborhood and advertising so aggressively.
“He was really pushy,” said Martinez. “He just kept asking and asking.”
Martinez lives on Smith Street near the River Street intersection in San Marcos. He did not realize the man did not really work for Grande until his internet connection started slowing down. Martinez went out to the back of his apartment complex and saw six wires connected to his cable box.
Add comment July 27, 2009
eFiling an Increase of Eviction Cases
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – Evictions are on the rise in Round Rock. Williamson County Precinct one Justice of the Peace Dain Johnson has averaged 43 eviction cases a month since January. With another week to go in July, Judge Johnson has already received 53 cases – in which 31 were filed last week alone.
“This last July seems to have been an anomaly,” said Judge Johnson.
He is counting on a new online case filing system to help with the increase of cases. Johnson is one of seven justices of the peace in the state to offer landlords and attorneys the option to file eviction cases online.
Before the cases ever reach the bench, complainants can file evictions through Judge Johnson’s website, which links landlords and attorneys to a state run site through Texas Online.
Add comment July 24, 2009
Number of burglaries spike in northwest Austin
News 8 Austin reports:
A spike in burglaries throughout Austin has prompted the Austin Police Department to urge the public to keep their doors and windows locked and stay alert.
Since January, APD said it has seen an 80 percent increase in burglaries in northwest part of town, including Jollyville, Duval and Parmer.
APD reports 208 residential burglaries in the area, 116 of which took place at apartments.
Police said if it happens to you, there is one way to improve the odds of getting your stuff back.
“Engrave your property with your driver’s license number on the back, in case the items are retrieved, then you can identify the property and give it back to you,” Ofc. Tanya Normand said.
Citywide numbers were not available as of press time Wednesday.
APD said the spike could be attributed to the struggling economy, but said crime tends to spike during the summer months.
Add comment July 16, 2009
Obama Mulls Rental Option for Some Homeowners
NEW YORK, July 14 (Reuters) – U.S. government officials are weighing a plan that would let borrowers who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments avoid eviction by renting their homes instead, sources familiar with the administration’s thinking said on Tuesday.
Under one idea being discussed, delinquent homeowners would surrender ownership of their homes but would continue to live in the property for several years, the sources told Reuters.
Officials are also considering whether the government should make mortgage payments on behalf of borrowers who cannot keep up with their home loans, tapping an unused portion of a $50 billion housing aid kitty.
As part of this plan, jobless borrowers might receive a housing stipend along with regular unemployment benefits, the sources said. (Reporting by Patrick Rucker; Editing by Diane Craft)
Add comment July 16, 2009
Home Scam? Craigslist Ad Fooled Renters
The “For Sale” sign is out at Aria Kilpatrick’s historic Hyde Park home, but she was confused when renters started calling her.
“My phone just kept ringing off the hook,” she said.
The callers said they had seen an ad on Craigslist advertising Kilpatrick’s house for rent — an ad she said she never placed.
“Well, I was really confuased at first,” said Kilpatrick. “I didn’t post an ad on Craigslist, and it’s not for rent.”
The ad said a thousand dollars a month for rent. A thousand dollars? That’s what some people in this neighborhood pay in just taxes alone.
Add comment July 16, 2009
City of Austin Offers Foreclosure Prevention and Credit Counseling Services
Austin, Texas — City officials recognize that although Austin is not facing the significant foreclosure numbers seen in cities in California, Florida, and Arizona — there is an increasing number of Austin residents being impacted by foreclosures. Recent Austin metro area foreclosure postings reached a new high in June 2009, with the number of foreclosure postings in Travis County exceeding 750, or a 117 percent increase compared with the 360 postings in the same month last year.
To address this trend, the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office through the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) recently contracted with Business and Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas to provide financial literacy services including foreclosure counseling, credit and budget counseling and money management for severely delinquent households not yet in foreclosure. The foreclosure counseling sessions offer qualified individuals with sessions either in person or by phone that include counseling on loan modification and other financial avenues to educate low-income residents about options to help keep them in their homes.
Add comment July 13, 2009
Americans Swap Homes for Hotels as Recession Bites
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) – Some Americans are swapping homes for motels as the ranks of the homeless swell during the recession, crowding out shelters and forcing cities and states across the country to find new types of housing.
In Massachusetts, a record number of families are being put up in motels due to high unemployment and the rising number of homes going into foreclosure, costing taxpayers $2 million per month but providing a lifeline for desperate families.
Add comment July 13, 2009
Katrina/Rita Transitional Assistance Program Set to Close Out in August
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is urging families still receiving Katrina/Rita transitional housing assistance to contact HUD to ensure that they are considered for rental vouchers, which are not time limited. A toll-free number, 1-800-955-2232, has been set up to make the process as easy as possible.
HUD issued a reminder today that families will receive the final rent payment for a six-month transitional disaster housing program on August 1, 2009, covering the rent through August 31st. The program was created to give families who participated in the Katrina/Rita Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) more time to find permanent housing. While more than 10,000 families have already been given a HUD housing voucher, HUD is ramping up final efforts to contact families who may qualify for rental voucher assistance.
Add comment July 13, 2009
