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Online financial planning tools
MyMoney.gov
is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching the basics about financial education. The site offers information from federal agencies and bureaus about planning for life events that have financial implications, balancing your checkbook, or planning for retirement. Tips are offered on how to improve and understand your credit score and how to obtain a free annual credit report. The site also provides money management tools, including financial calculators and worksheets >>
Fact sheet lists benefits of housing counseling
The Center for Housing Policy summarizes research on the impacts housing counseling has in reducing mortgage delinquency and foreclosure. Visit the National Housing Conference, Center for Housing Policy website >>
HUD’S 2010 homeless assessment report shows progress and problems
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) credits the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) with keeping the number of homeless persons unchanged from 2009 to 2010. More than 90 percent of HPRP clients exited the program to permanent housing. Between 2007 and 2010, however, the number of people using shelters in rural and suburban areas increased 57 percent and family homelessness increased 20 percent. Read the 2010 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress >>
Recruiting U.S. military veterans to the water industry
Work for Water has released a new document to help the water sector recruit U.S. military veterans. According to Work for Water, veterans can have an understanding of teamwork, discipline and personal accountability that make them excellent employees in the water industry. Download the document to learn about the various mechanisms in place. Also, SmallWaterSupply.org highlights specific steps a small system can take to help bring veterans into the field. Read more >>
Subscribe to smallwatersupply.org >>
Financial Planning Week – Oct. 3–9, 2011
The Financial Planning Association celebrates its 10th Annual Financial Planning Week to help people discover the value of financial planning and making smart financial decisions to achieve life goals and dreams. During the week, the Financial Planning Association and its nationwide network host financial planning education events, seminars, workshops, hotlines and more to improve financial literacy across the nation. Read more >>
Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc. publishes two new guides for small community water systems
A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator’s Guide to Drinking Water Systems and A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator’s Guide to Wastewater Systems
The guides were written for people who have a role or interest in their community’s water systems but not the technical knowledge or skills of a system operator. The guides are ideal for board members of utilities in small communities, elected leaders with oversight of a water system or any decision-maker who is involved in a water system.
HUD E-Briefs
Foreclosure prevention mediation program
Washington state’s new Foreclosure Prevention Mediation Program launched July 22 to implement a new state law requiring “lenders to notify borrowers prior to foreclosure of the availability of foreclosure counseling and the potential for mediation.” For more information, visit Washington’s Department of Commerce website >>
Not just another ribbon cutting
On June 16, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives and the Portland Housing Bureau celebrated a ribbon-cutting on 12 rehabilitation projects in North Portland. “Oh no,” you say, “not another ribbon-cutting story!” But hold on and consider what’s behind that ribbon. Like the 12 units of housing put back into use and back on the tax rolls. Like the 3,100 hours of work at good wages that construction trades people got in rehabilitating the units. Like the opportunities “several” small start-up subcontractors got to work for the first time with the Davis-Bacon program. Like the opportunities provided members of the Oregon Tradeswomen’s apprentice program to get onsite experience. Or, best of all, like the 12 more units of affordable housing now affordable to families in these not particularly easy times. Want “outcomes”? You’d be well-served, obviously, to start in North Portland.
For these and many more briefs, subscribe to RSS feeds at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website>>
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