Yearly Archives: 2011

May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been tracking wasteful spending at public housing authorities including those in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. He made the following comment on an audit released today, showing the Philadelphia Housing Authority wasted millions of dollars from the federal stimulus package. The audit is available here.

Sioux City, IA - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded more than $216 million to nearly 700 new homeless programs across the country. This amount represents $26 million more than last year’s grants and, combined with renewal funding announced earlier this year, represents the most homelessness assistance ever awarded by HUD. Three categories of funding were available:

Sioux City, IA - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sioux City Human Rights Commission will host a Landlord and Property Manager Workshop on Thursday, May 5, 2011 in the third floor conference room at the Long Lines Family recreation Center, 401 Gordon Drive. The workshop will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end by 5:00 p.m.

Sioux City, IA - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sioux City Human Rights Commission in partnership with the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) and Midtown Family Community Center will host an educational event “Fair Housing in Siouxland” on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at the Midtown Community Center, 525 14th Street, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Des Moines, IA - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors today approved four grants totaling $200,000 to advance affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in Fayette, Keokuk, Logan and Sioux Center. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based program. The program provides financing for the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing units.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recognition of Fair Housing month, the Sioux City Human Rights Commission, Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) and the Midtown Community Center will host the symposium “Fair Housing in Siouxland” on Wednesday, April 20th at the Midtown Community Center, 525 14th Street, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sioux City Fire Rescue is pleased to announce a new residential Safe Home Program. This program has three components:

Sioux City, IA - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Sioux City, Neighborhood Services Division has partnered with Inspection Services Division to develop a new program. “We have formed a unique partnership to help low-income elderly, and disabled homeowners with critical emergency repairs that have reduced life, health and safety hazards and improved homeowners’ quality of life” says Darlynn McMullen.

SIOUX CITY, IA - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MyPad Down Payment Assistance Program was created to overcome the greatest barrier to homeownership, down payment. MyPad provides an opportunity for qualified low to moderate income individuals and families to purchase affordable homes by receiving money from the Home Investment Partnership for down payment on a home. Homebuyers will never have to repay the gift from MyPad as long as the home purchased remains owner occupied throughout the 5 year period of the deferred payment loan

EUGENE, OR - February 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Matthew Brisch of Howes & Jefferies Realtors has adopted a customized IDX solution from IDX, Inc. for his professional real estate website. As a member of the Clinton MLS (CLIN), Brisch has long has access to the immense database of property listings CLIN hosts. Now, clients of Brisch and potential buyers utilizing the innovative IDX solution he employs can experience an unprecedented level of access to CLIN listings conveniently from the Howes and Jefferies search page. The online property search in Clinton, Iowa has been revolutionized by IDX Broker and Matthew Brisch.

Washington, DC - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Iowa Congressman Tom Latham, the chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the introduction of a continuing resolution in the House of Representatives to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011

February 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Siouxland Coalition to End Homelessness (SCEH), in coordination with the City of Sioux City, conducted the annual Point in Time count on Wednesday, January 26. The Point in Time (PIT) count is a snapshot count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night, typically at the end of January. Cities across the country participate in this event as a requirement to receive funding for homeless activities from the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

February 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property Owners Continue to Utilize Tax Exemption to Construct New Homes/Make Improvements to Existing Homes. In October of 2007, the City of Sioux City began the City-Wide Tax Exemption / Urban Revitalization Program. The purpose of the program is to provide partial tax exemption for up to 10 years on the increased value of property resulting from improvements. Improvements can include substantial remodeling, additions, or new construction of single-family residential or multi-family residential structures

January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Human Rights, Iowa Legal Aid, The Boys Club, and North Middle School Students Helping the Homeless. Human Rights VISTAs, Legal Aid, The Boys Club and North Middle School Students have all been hard at work gathering much needed items for the homeless in our community. All have devoted time to increase the awareness and advocacy of homeless by requesting donations of items which will be passed out during the annual Point in Time Count.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Chuck Grassley has asked 20 law firms in Philadelphia for information about their billing of the Philadelphia Public Housing Authority as part of a larger review of how the housing authority has misused federal tax dollars. Grassley said he is going directly to the firms for information about the amount billed and the kind of work performed because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which awards federal funds to local housing authorities, has told him it doesn’t maintain records about such legal payments and, in the case of the Philadelphia Public Housing Authority, news organizations have reported how the housing authority structured settlements in at least four sexual harassment cases and one case where the failure to inspect a building before demolition resulted in the death of a resident.