HOUSING
As the housing crisis continues to threaten communities throughout the nation, Susan has advocated for federal action to help individuals and families cope.
Mortgages and Foreclosures
Thousands of homeowners locally and across the nation have either already lost their homes or face foreclosure as a result of the subprime mortgage crisis and other economic issues. Susan has supported legislation that would help at-risk homeowners refinance or modify their costly adjustable-rate or interest-only mortgages into more affordable fixed-rate loans. Congress is actively engaged to ensure that these modification programs are efficient and effective.
Fact Sheet - Independent Foreclosure Reviews
Affordable Housing
As housing costs and availability have reached crisis levels, Susan has worked to defend affordable housing programs and increase the supply of housing units in San Diego. She has worked to get federal funding to our region to build housing units in low-income areas and to improve homeless shelters. She has been active in the fight to preserve and expand the Section 8 voucher program providing rental assistance to thousands of working families.
Improving our Neighborhoods
Since coming to Congress, Susan has been an enthusiastic supporter of legislation on the House floor to bolster the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The fund will construct, preserve, or rehabilitate as many as 1.5 million low-income rental housing units over the next 10 years. These housing units will go exclusively to low-income individuals and families.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Since the foreclosure crisis has hit San Diego hard, Susan has been working hard to protect funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. San Diego County received about $9.4 million and the City of San Diego got $5.1 million. This money is used to improve abandoned homes in San Diego and revive blighted communities by encouraging home buyers to move into neighborhoods hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. The local Community Housing Works organization has been administering these funds and has actually found this to be a revenue-generating resource for their non-profit organization. In tough economic times like these, you can’t argue with that!
Homes for Veterans
Susan has long advocated for home ownership for San Diego’s families. Last year, the President signed provisions into law from legislation Susan introduced, the Home Ownership for America’s Veterans Act. The provisions allow veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to take advantage of the CalVet home loan program. Susan is pushing for several other improvements to federal law to help all San Diegans achieve home ownership, including higher conforming loan limits and protection for sub-prime buyers. Many members of the military have found it difficult to modify their home loans, and Susan’s staff has begun tackling this problem head-on.
She is also concerned with the rising instances of homelessness in our nation’s veteran population and is working on legislation to increase the number of Section 8 housing vouchers available to homeless veterans through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program by 10,000. She sent a letter supported by 32 Members of Congress requesting that Congressional leaders increase funding for this program in the FY2011 budget.
Housing Resources
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage and fear foreclosure, there are some people you can turn to for help and advice. You may also be able to attend housing clinics throughout the region with specialists who can review documents and give one-on-one advice.
HUD Housing Counseling Referral Line: Resources by zip code for renters, homeowners, seniors, people in default or foreclosure, people having home equity conversion issues: (800) 569-4287
San Diego Home Loan Counseling and Education Center: 619-624-2330
Homeowners HOPE Hotline with HUD-approved credit counselors for people having trouble making their mortgage payments: (888) 995-HOPE
San Diego Community HousingWorks: (619) 282-6647
San Diego Housing Commission: Administers the Section 8 program in the City of San Diego and other housing programs. (619) 231-9400
County of San Diego’s Housing & Community Development Department: Administers the Section 8 program in Coronado, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove an the unincorporated area of San Diego County and other housing programs. (858) 694-4801
Cal Vet Home Loan San Diego Office: Home financing services for qualified veterans. (619) 525-3700