Fannie Mae Offers a Break to Service People

Fannie Mae says it will reduce or suspend mortgage payments for up to six months for military families if they are unable to pay because of the injury or death of a service member.

Military members or surviving spouses should contact their mortgage company or call this special military phone number: (877) MIL-4566.

Source: The Associate Press (09/27/2010)

HUD and VA to Prevent Homeless Vets

To prevent homelessness among veterans, especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs will jointly invest $15 million for housing assistance in five communities near military installations.

These installations will each receive $2 million: MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa; Camp Pendleton in San Diego; Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas; Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y.; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash. In addition, VA medical centers in the following areas will each receive $1 million: Tampa, San Diego, Dallas, Syracuse, N.Y., and American Lake in Washington.

HUD will provide rental assistance, including security deposits, utility payments, and case management. The VA will offer healthcare.

Source: HUD and VA Offices of Public Affairs (07/22/2010)