Congressman Paul Urges Funding of OTAG Grants
Capitol Hill
Memo to Members: Vol 11, No. 37, September 22, 2006
In a September 14 letter to HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) argued for an extension of the Outreach and Training Assistance Grant (OTAG) program as a cost effective tool in housing preservation. In the letter, Mr. Paul requested that HUD utilize the technical assistance funds Congress authorized for this program.
The OTAG program was included in Section 514 (f) of the Multifamily Assisted Housing and Reform Affordability Act (MAHRAA) of 1997 and requires HUD to establish procedures to provide opportunities for tenants to participate in the mortgage restructuring process during any proposed transfer of the property and in rental assistance assessment plans. OTAG grants have not been awarded since 2001, even though the statute requires up to $10 million be set aside annually for the program.
Mr. Paul said that housing preservation and improvement is an important goal and that the OTAG program is needed to reach that goal. His letter can be found at: www.nlihc.org/news/091406ronpaul.pdf
