[For Task Force members, from Lisa Nuszkowski]

As you know, Task Force members and staff have been meeting with the Michigan Congressional Delegation to educate our elected officials about the foreclosure crisis in our state and advocate for additional support for foreclosure prevention and housing counseling.  Thus far, we have met with the offices of Senator Carl Levin, Congressman John Dingell, Congressman Dave Camp, Congressman Vern Ehlers, and Congressman Mark Schauer.  All were very receptive to our message, and share our concerns about Michigan getting its fair share of funding to fight the foreclosure crisis and stabilize our communities.

With the help of Congressman Dingell’s staff, the entire Michigan Delegation has signed on to a letter addressed to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan that outlines the dire need here in Michigan and asks a series of questions about the Housing Counseling Assistance Program (HCAP) funds and how they are allocated.  We expect to receive a response by the middle of October and will share this with the Task Force.  While these efforts may not affect HCAP funding awards for 2009, we hope that these efforts will result in a more thorough, thoughtful review of the HCAP program, and how it can be better tailored to meet the very real needs of communities across Michigan.

See the letter here.  If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Nuszkowski.