Latest news with #USDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment
Gulf Today
03-08-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Cutting housing counselling is a grave mistake
For generations, owning a home has been one of the most effective ways for American families to build wealth, stability and long-term opportunity. But for far too many families, especially those who are Black and Latine, this opportunity remains out of reach. Sustainable homeownership means giving people the tools and support they need to make informed decisions for long-term success. That's what housing counseling does. Usually working at nonprofit organisations, trained counselors certified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) help individuals and families navigate every stage of the housing journey, from renting to buying to holding on to their homes during hard times, according to the Tribune News Service. The advice of these counselors is unbiased, typically free and grounded in the best interests of families and communities. They help clients build budgets, improve credit, understand down-payment assistance programmes and avoid scams. When crises like illness or job loss strike, housing counselors are often the ones helping families avoid foreclosure. This work has significant reach. HUD data shows that from October 2023 to September 2024, more than 4,600 HUD-certified counselors assisted more than 850,000 households. In Illinois alone, 193 HUD-certified counselors assisted more than 34,000 households. More than 2,000 families purchased their first home, and approximately 800 families avoided mortgage default or foreclosure, stabilising not only these families but entire neighbourhoods. But the budget proposed by the House of Representatives eliminates funding for HUD's Housing Counseling Program from the nation's budget for fiscal year 2026. This is not just a routine cut. It's a reversal of decades of bipartisan support for sustainable homeownership and housing stability. The Senate could restore housing counseling funding in its budget proposal, which would then need to be negotiated with the House of Representatives. At Housing Action Illinois, a HUD-approved intermediary, my work involves supporting a network of 35 housing counseling agencies across the Midwest and beyond. I see up-close how the numbers translate into real, life-changing stories. An agency in our network recently helped Yara, a single mother in Central Illinois who was overwhelmed by the homebuying process. It connected her with Tessa, a housing counselor who helped her walk through the process of building credit and preparing for home ownership. With Tessa's guidance, Yara secured down payment assistance and became a first-time homeowner. Then there's China, who came to a Missouri-based counselor with a low credit score. Over two years, she followed a personalized plan to pay off student loans and raise her credit, eventually qualifying for a mortgage. After closing on her new home this past winter, she returned for post-purchase counseling to stay on track. I also think of Elliot, a single father of four who spent five years working with a housing counselor in Wisconsin. With support and perseverance, he went on a remarkable journey from homelessness to homeownership by rebuilding his credit, growing his savings and qualifying for a Habitat for Humanity home. As housing becomes harder to find amid growing economic uncertainty, housing counseling becomes even more of a lifeline. That's why it's alarming that these budget proposals zero out funding for HUD's Housing Counseling Program. Eliminating this support turns away from decades of federal policy that has embraced homeownership as a core national goal. For nearly 60 years, housing counselors have helped families buy and keep homes — in big cities, small towns and rural communities alike. This work has been especially important during tough times, such as the foreclosure crisis and again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when housing counselors were on the front lines, meeting with clients and contacting banks and servicers to help homeowners to keep their homes.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Siouxland tribes receiving federal home-funding grants
(KCAU) — Three Native American tribes in Siouxland received grants for affordable housing activities from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska obtained more than $5.2 million, while the Winnebago Tribe was awarded a little over $2 million. The Santee Sioux Nation received more than $1 million. The money comes from $1.1 billion in housing block grant funding for tribes nationwide. If you'd like to see a full list of tribes awarded funds, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Siouxland tribes receiving federal home-funding grants
(KCAU) — Three Native American tribes in Siouxland received grants for affordable housing activities from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska obtained more than $5.2 million, while the Winnebago Tribe was awarded a little over $2 million. The Santee Sioux Nation received more than $1 million. The money comes from $1.1 billion in housing block grant funding for tribes nationwide. If you'd like to see a full list of tribes awarded funds, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sky News AU
15-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Oil tycoon busted at lavish Utah mega-mansion, accused of working with Mexican cartels in $466 million scheme
A Utah oil magnate was arrested along with his wife in a dramatic raid on their opulent, 27,000-square-foot mansion after allegedly smuggling more than $300 million (AUD$466 million) worth of oil from Mexico to the US with the help of drug cartels, according to reports. James and Kelly Jensen were arrested on April 23 by US Marshals, who used battering rams to bust through the doors of the couple's $9.2 million mansion outside Salt Lake City, KSLTV reported. 'They were unwilling to come out,' Assistant US Attorney Michael Hess said of the family, which has deep political ties — Kelly's father, Gordon Walker, worked in the US Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Ronald Reagan, while her mother, Carlene Walker, was a Utah state senator, according to KVEO. Just days earlier on April 17, the Jensens were indicted on charges they conspired to buy and smuggle more than 2,800 shipments of stolen oil from Mexico into the US as part of an alleged scheme that began three years ago, according to the feds. The Jensens' company made payments for the crude oil to 'businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of Mexican criminal organizations,' according to the feds. The feds alleged the family used their ill-gotten gains to buy a new home and cars — and have moved to seize them. Their sons Zachary and Max were also allegedly in on it and were also indicted, though it is unclear if they were arrested at the mountainside mansion with their parents. The family owns and operates Arroyo Terminals, a Texas company that buys and sells crude oil at a property just miles from the US border in Rio Hondo. Arroyo Terminals was raided by federal agents on the same day the family was arrested, with employees being handcuffed and questioned about the business's practices. 'We don't know about that,' one employee told CBS 4 News after the raid. 'We're just in charge of unloading the trucks and loading the barges.' 'When it comes to the aspect of knowing where this oil's coming from or what company or what part of Mexico or anything like that, we were always out of the loop,' another work told Border Report. The Jensens were detained and taken to the Salt Lake City Jail, but despite prosecutors' fears of being a flight risk, were back home within days after their attorney, John Huber, agued they had deep roots in the community and weren't going anywhere. 'They're active in their church. They're active in their community. They come from a stalwart Utah family,' Huber said. '[James'] in-laws have served in public service for decades and they don't want to throw that all out of the window.' Huber also disputed the feds' claim that the family refused to come easily during the raid. 'Mr. Jensen and Mrs. Jensen's story about that is very different,' Huber said, claiming the couple agreed to come out but that the feds busted down their door anyway. The family business was previously accused of buying stolen oil in 2011. In that case, James Jensen was sued by a Mexican government-owned oil company for allegedly traveling to Mexico to buy fuel from cartels. Jensen denied all wrongdoing and that case was dropped two years later. After their April arrest, the Jensens were ordered to forfeit all money they'd earned from the alleged scheme, along with new cars, a second home, their business, and bank accounts — all worth about $300 million, KSLTV reported. Both sons pleaded not guilty. All were also charged with money laundering spending conspiracy, and aiding and abetting smuggling goods into the US. They face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Originally published as Oil tycoon busted at lavish Utah mega-mansion, accused of working with Mexican cartels in $466 million scheme
New York Post
12-05-2025
- New York Post
Feds bash down door at lavish Utah mega-mansion, arrest oil magnate accused of working with cartels to import $300 million in illegal Mexican crude
A Utah oil magnate was arrested along with his wife in a dramatic raid on their opulent 27,000-square-foot mansion after allegedly smuggling more than $300 million worth of oil from Mexico to the US with the help of drug cartels, according to reports. James and Kelly Jensen were arrested on April 23 by US Marshals, who used battering rams to bust through the doors of the couple's $9.2 million mansion in outside Salt Lake City, KSLTV reported. 'They were unwilling to come out,' Assistant US Attorney Michael Hess said of the family, which has deep political ties — Kelly's father, Gordon Walker, worked in the US Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Ronald Reagan, while her mother, Carlene Walker, was a Utah state Senator, according to KVEO. Advertisement 3 The Jensen's 33,000 square-foot mansion on a mountainside in Sandy, Utah, that the feds raided in late April KSL TV Just days earlier on April 17, the Jensens were indicted on charges they conspired to buy and smuggle more than 2,800 shipments of stolen oil from Mexico into the US as part of an alleged scheme that began three years ago, according to the feds. The Jensens' company made payments for the crude oil to 'businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of Mexican criminal organizations,' according to the feds. Advertisement The feds alleged the family used their ill-gotten gains to buy a new home and cars — and have moved to seize them. Their sons Zachary and Max, were also allegedly in on it and were also indicted, though it is unclear if they were arrested at the mountainside mansion with their parents. The family owns and operates Arroyo Terminals, a Texas company that buys and sells crude oil at a property just miles from the US border in Rio Hondo. Arroyo Terminals was raided by federal agents on the same day that the family was arrested, with employees being handcuffed and questioned about the business' practices. Advertisement 'We don't know about that,' one employee told CBS 4 News after the raid. 'We're just in charge of unloading the trucks and loading the barges.' 'When it comes to the aspect of knowing where this oil's coming from or what company or what part of Mexico or anything like that, we were always out of the loop,' another work told Border Report. 3 James Jensen and his family own an oil buying and selling company in south Texas Arroyo Terminals The Jensens were detained and taken to the Salt Lake City Jail, but despite prosecutors' fears of being a flight risk were back home within days after their attorney, John Huber, agued they had deep roots in the community and weren't going anywhere. Advertisement 'They're active in their church. They're active in their community. They come from a stalwart Utah family,' Huber said. '[James'] in-laws have served in public service for decades and they don't want to throw that all out of the window.' Huber also disputed the feds' claim that the family refused to come easily during the raid. 'Mr. Jensen and Mrs. Jensen's story about that is very different,' Huber said, claiming the couple agreed to come out but that the feds busted down their door anyway. 3 Federal agents say the Jensens didn't come out when they came knocking — so the mansion's door was battered down KSL TV The family business was previously accused by of buying stolen oil in 2011. In that case, James Jensen was sued by a Mexican government-owned oil company for allegedly travelling to Mexico to buy fuel from cartels. Jensen denied all wrongdoing and that case was dropped two years later. After their April arrest, the Jensens were ordered to forfeit all money they'd earned from the alleged scheme, along with new cars, a second home, their business, and bank accounts — all worth about $300 million, KSLTV reported. Advertisement Both sons pleaded not guilty. All were also charged with money laundering spending conspiracy, and aiding and abetting smuggling goods into the US. They face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
