Page A6
(Elje fturtknib ©beeruer
Regional
Housing
M a rk e t
HUD T erm in ates P ro p erty M a n a g e m e n t
C o n tra c t w ith In to w n M a n a g e m e n t Group
W A S H IN G T O N - H o u sin g and
U rban D evelopm ent S ecretary A n­
d re w C u o m o to d a y a n n o u n c e d
H U D h as te rm in a te d a m a n a g e ­
m e n t c o n tra c t w ith In T o w n M a n ­
ag e m e n t G ro u p b e c a u s e th e c o m ­
p an y d id a p o o r jo b m a n a g in g and
m ark eting about 2 5,000 h om es that
H U D a c q u ire d th ro u g h fo re c lo ­
su re.
T h e te rm in a te d c o n tra c ts c o v e r
p ro p e rtie s in A la b a m a , D ela w are,
th e D istric t o fC o lu m b ia , G eo rg ia ,
Idaho, Illin o is, Ind ian a, K entucky,
M a ry lan d , M ic h ig a n , M ississip p i,
N ew Je rse y , N ew Y o rk , N o rth
C a ro lin a , O h io , O re g o n , P e n n sy l­
v an ia, S outh C a ro lin a , T en n e sse e,
V irg in ia , W a sh in g to n S tate an d
W est V irg in ia .
"H U D se ts to u g h sta n d a rd s fo r
its c o n tra c to rs as p a rt o t o u r e f ­
fo rt to w ip e o u t w a ste , frau d an d
a b u s e in v o lv in g o u r fu n d s,
C u o m o said . “ W h e n c o n tra c to rs
fa il to m eet o u r sta n d a rd s, w e r e ­
p la c e th e m .”
In T o w n - b a s e d in A tla n ta , G A
- w as o n e o f se v e n c o n tra c to rs
th a t re c e iv e d M a n a g e m e n t and
M a rk e tin g (M & M ) c o n tra cts from
H U D in A p ril to m a in ta in an d sell
h o m e s th a t th e F e d e ra l H o u sin g
A d m in is tra tio n o w n s as a re su lt
o f fo reclosures. FH A, w hich is p art
o f H U D , in su res h o m e m o rtg ag es.
W hen a h o m e o w n e r d e fa u lts o n
an FH A -in su re d m o rtg a g e s, FH A
tak es p o s s e s s io n of th e h o m e an d
w o r k s to s e l l it to a n o t h e r
h o m e b u y er.
T he M & M p ro g ram allo w s FH A
to m a n a g e its in v e n to ry o f s in g le ­
fam ily h o m e s in a c c o rd a n c e w ith
the b e s t p r iv a te s e c to r p r a c tic e s ,
to stre a m lin e th e d is p o s itio n p r o ­
c e ss, a n d to re d u c e th e tim e an d
c o s t o f s e llin g p r o p e r tie s , u lti­
m a te ly g e n e r a tin g s ig n i f i c a n t
s a v in g s .
H U D te r m in a te d a ll s ix o f
In T o w n ’s c o n tra c ts b e c a u s e th e
com p an y failed to e ffe c tiv e ly m a r­
k et a n d se ll h o m e s a n d fa ile d to
m a in ta in h o m e s in g o o d c o n d i­
tio n . A s a r e s u lt, in s te a d o f e n ­
a b lin g F H A to se ll fo re c lo s e d
h o m e s m o re q u ic k ly , In T o w n
slo w e d d o w n th e p ro c e s s o f s e ll­
in g th e h o m e s an d c o n trib u te d to
n e ig h b o r h o o d d e te r io r a tio n as
v a c a n t h o m e s w e n t u n so ld .
H U D is c o n s id e r in g th e p o s s i­
b ility o f f u r th e r a c tio n a g a in s t
In T o w n o ffic ia ls .
A fte r a o n e -w e e k tra n sitio n p e­
rio d , n ew p r iv a te c o n tra c to rs w ill
a s s u m e a l l F H A R e a l E s ta te
O w n e d (R E O ) m a n a g e m e n t and
m a rk e tin g r e s p o n s ib ilitie s fo r­
m erly p e rfo rm e d by In T o w n sta rt­
ing on W e d n e s d a y , S e p te m b e r
2 9 . D u rin g th e tr a n s itio n p e rio d ,
FH A te m p o rarily w ill not list p ro p ­
e r tie s fo r s a le o r a c c e p t b id s on
o u ts ta n d in g lis tin g s fo r th e a re a s
f o rm e r ly c o v e r e d b y In T ow n.
H o w e v e r, a ll sc h e d u le d c lo s in g s
w ill p ro c e e d to th e g r e a te s t e x ­
te n t p o s s ib le .
O n S e p te m b e r 29, FH A w ill re ­
su m e c o m p le te R E O p ro p e r ty
s a le s o p e r a tio n s , in c lu d in g lis t­
in g p ro p e r tie s fo r sa la~ a n d a c ­
c e p tin g b id s . F u rth e rm o re , all
o u ts ta n d in g sa les c o n tra c ts w ill
b e h o n o re d by F H A , an d all p r e v i­
o u sly s u b m itte d b id s to r liste d
p ro p e rtie s w ill be re v ie w e d , p u r­
su a n t to F H A g u id e lin e s.
T he housing m arket slow ed dow n
this sum m er in the Portland area. Sales
flattened out, and a lagging dem and
did not push housing prices up, so
the m arket m ight be m oving in the
b u y er’s favor. For years a surging
sales boom pushed housing prices
b eyond the m eans o f many w ould-be
buyers. The m arket is especially flat
in C lark C ounty, W ashington, w here
hom e sales w ere dow n 12-percent
from last year. Real estate profes­
sionals said the slow dow n in Clark
C ounty m ight be explained by build­
ing restrictions, a lack o f w ater sup­
ply and crow ded roads. The boom in
housing prices in the 90s gave the
Portland area the reputation o f being
an expensive place to live.
L e t’s P ut Som e S p irit in to G overnm ent Aid
.... _* **_»1
by
S tar P arker
Vice President A1 Gore now says he
thinks churches and faith-based orga­
nizations should partner with govern­
ment to do charity work, but only ifthey
leave out their spiritual component
when they do so. Speaking from per­
sonal experience as a former welfare
mother, I thinkG orem adeabigm istake
when he added that “but only if.”
Letting private religious charities
administer welfare services is a com ­
m on sense approach to the transition
from welfare to independence. But the
chanties need to be allowed to offer
their clients spiritual support. The first
step welfare mothers must take if they
are to mainstream their li ves is to under­
stand that they have a moral obligation
to be personally responsible and self-
sufficient. Youcannotunderstandm o-
rality without God.
Such support was vital for m e dur­
ing my transition from welfare. The
government told me I was the victim. It
was a local faith-based organization
that helped me get o ff welfare by pro­
viding the spiritual dimension, w hich
put the onus on me.
But leftist organizations such as the
American Civil Liberties U nion are
fighting the ch aritab le-ch o ice pro-
Setter Business Bureau
Warns Consumers
P n r r i a n d O r e - T h e BetterBusiness
m ay find that they have unintentionally
sold people they know bad or nonexist-
by making your decision today! Popular
demand will force us to raise our rates
soon!” Ifaconsumerbecomesvictimofa
work-at-home scheme, they should first
ask the company for a refund. Hie com­
pany may be willing to give it
to you. If they refuse to give a
refund, or if they give an eva­
sive response, the consumer
should tell them that they plan
tonotifylawenforcementoffi-
cials. Consumers need to be
aware thatmost work-at-home
businesses do not work out o f
a physical location; instead
they do their business through
aP.O. Box orpnvate mailbox.
Ihiscanmakeccntactingthese
types o f businesses very dif-
ficultwhenproblemsdoan.se.
Keep care tul recotdsofevery-
thing. Document plione calls,
keep copies of all paperwork
such as letters and receipts,
and record all costs involved,
including the time spent Ifthe
business refuses a refund or is
unable to be reached, contact
Bureau serving Oregon and Western
en t
p ro d u cts
or
se rv ic es.
W ashington is warning consum ers
3)
Risk
Becoming
the
Focus
o f a Legal
about three Oregon-based businesses
Investigation
-
victims
may
be held
that have received complaints nation­
responsible
if
they
perpetrate
a fraud
w ide. C o n su m er P u b licatio n s o f
by
promoting
and
selling
a
fraudulent
Medford, Corporate Management Ser­
p r o d u c t o r se rv ic e to o th e rs.
vices ofBeaverton and U nited Finane lal
4) Lose Valuable Time - May expend a
GroupofHood River havebeen brought
lot o f effort on a work-at-home-scheme
to the Bureau’s attention as possible
that gives you nothing in return. Some
work-at-home schemes. All three com ­
o f the most popular work-at-home
panies have unsatisfactory records with
schemes include processing medical
the BBB. In most cases, consumercom­
insurance c laims, on-line schemes, mail­
plaints allege either not receiving the
order scams, envelope stuffing, assem­
product or service they purchased, or
bling craft items or sewing, multi-level
not receiving refunds as promised by
maiketing distributorships and chain
the company. Complaints have been
letters. Be skeptical about work-at-
filed from consumers across the United
hom
e promotions that state: 1) Y ou
States, as far east as N ew Jersey; but no
can
earn
big money with little effort -
complaints have been filed from con­
“
Earn
hundreds
in your spare tim e!”
sumers in the Northwest However, work-
2)
N
o
ex
p
e
rien
c e is n ec essary -
at-home businesses consistendy gen­
“
O
u
r
p
eo
p
le
h
av
e com e from all
erate the most inquiries received by the
w
alk
s
o
f
life
an
d
h av e su cceed ed
BBB serving O regon and W estern
w
ith
n
o
s
p
e
c
i
a l tr a in in g ! ”
Washington. In fact, from April to June
3)
T
he
m
a
rk
e
t
for
y o u r w o rk a l­
1999 it was the second most inquired
rea
d
y
exists
-
“T
his
huge,
untapped
about industry, falling short to roofing
m
a
rk
e
t
is
w
aitin
g
for
y
o
u
!”
4) Y ou
and guttering contractors. “W e believe
n ee d to in v e st o n ly an in sig n ifi­
consumers in our service area are check­
the area in which the business
c a n t am ount o f m oney for train in g
ing with us before felling prey to these
is located. For businesses
or materials - “O nly $29.95 will bring
local work-at-home schemes,"said Rob­
based m Oregon and Western
y ou th o u san d s in earn in g p o w e r!”
ert W.G. Andrew, BBB President and
Washington, consumers can
5) Y ou w ill n o t b e p aid a reg u la r
CEO. “W e now have to make sure con­
call(5O3)226-3981 inOregon
sa lary - “ P ro fits w ill start ro llin g in
sumers in other parts o f the country are
and(206)431-2222in W est­
w
ith
yourfirstcompleteditem!”6)Don’t
educated about these businesses’ prac­
ern Washington.
wait
to
make
yourdecision-"Save
money
tices and encourage them to do their
homework before getting scammed.
“ Consumer Publications in Medford,
also known as the Home Employment
Project, has a pattern o f not responding
to consumer complaints brought to its
attention by the Bureau. The Bureau
also contacted Consumer Publications
in regards to its advertising,“ . . riskfree
100% money back guarantee . .,"as well
as substantiation for claims they make in
its literature,“ . . . getpaidtowatchTV...,”
“ ...get paid to go shopping...,” etc.
Again, the company did not respond to
the Bureau’s requests. With complaints
filed against Corporate Management
Services (CMS), the Bureau has been
a ? in i
I < H 11 ; a ' ,i
unsuccessful in contacting the com­
pany since all mail addressed to CMS
lias been returned. Address changes or
insufficient addresses have made it im­
possible to reach this company, although
the company is believed to still be adver­
tising their products. United Financial
Group, which also goes by the names
Medicard One, Medicard Associates
VANCOUVER
and Home Employment Opportunities,
is located in Hood River. This company
has a pattern o f not issuing refunds and
an unsatisfactory performance record
vision o f the 1996 w elfare reform law
that says states that co n tra ct out
w elfare services m ust n o t d iscrim i­
nate against faith-based o rg an iza­
tions and p rivate charities.
D em ocrats claim to care about
liberating p o o r people, yet they are
willing to cut offb lack w elfare m oth­
ers from the very o rgan that will
enable them to heal them selves; the
church. G overnm ent o fficials co n ­
tinue to say they care ab o u t the
plight o f th ese w om en and w ill do
any th in g to m ake th e tra n sitio n
easier, y et they too are intim idated
by the h o stility o f sep aratist groups
w ho fight faith-based participation.
The reason o utreach program s
such as the U nion R escue M ission
in Los A ngeles and Payne M em orial
O utreach in B altim ore are so suc­
cessful is sim ple: T hey allow people
to reform their lives b y first estab ­
lishing a relationship w ith God.
T hese groups ad m in ister their
services w ith very low overhead and
CH IEF
adm inistrative cost. M any o f the
counselors and sta ff are volunteers
and form er recipients them selves.
T hey know firsthand w hat to do.
Governm ent has tried charity work
w ithout G od. It fo u n d o ut it d o e s n ’t
RESIGNS...
Storm Brews
Over Finances
w orkw ell.
Instead, w e should let taxpayers
decide w here their charitable m oney
goes. A llow individuals to receive a
dollar-fo r-d o llar tax credit for their
financial support o f local outreach
m inistries and com m unity-based or­
ganizations that assist w elfare m oth­
ers in the transition from w elfare to
w ork. G ive recipients the right to
choose w hat facility they w ant to
assist in the reform ation o f their lives
and w hether that assistan ce w ill in­
clude spiritual aid.
C h u rc h e s a n d lo c a l c o m m u ­
n ity g ro u p s a re th e o n ly o n e s
th a t c a n g iv e th e s e w o m e n th e
e m o tio n a l a n d s p ir itu a l s u p p o rt
th e y n e e d w h ile th e y c h a n g e
th e ir liv e s fo r th e b e tte r .
T he ch ief o f P o rtlan d ’s U rban
League is resigning due to accusations
that the organization mishandled pub­
lic money while he was leader. 1uwrence
Dark, president and ch ief operating
officer o f the agency will leave his job
Friday. He has held the 95-thousand
dollar-a-yearpost more than five years.
The U rban League serves African
Americans, senior citizens, youths and
low-income families. Multnomah offi­
cials discovered numerous financial
irregularities in the social service orga­
nization, and criticized a lack o f finan­
cial controls. The board has said that
they want D ark’s successor to have a
stro n g
fin a n c ia l b ac k g ro u n d .
Presented by: African-American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon • The Walker Institute • American Airlines
»
the “*
SEQUEL
“ BROTHAS
NIGHT OUT**
Keynote Speaker:
Carlton B. Moore
Saturday, Oct. 23, 1999 • 7:30 p.m . • D ouble Tree Jan tzcn Beach
‘'Because we can do more than sing and play sports.”
N salute to
minority men,
businesses and
corporate partners
• Business
attire only
• No late arriva ls
• For ladies, too!
Advance Tickets
$35 at the door
Credit/Debit cards accepted
< )nloi tic kcls In. pin me
(5 0 3 ) 2 n - 5 ~ 9 i
Ext. 22
or fax to (503) 293-2094
spa
O
X*
THFRAPFAUTIC TUB.
FAC IAI THERAPIES
W A X IN G -------------------
BOONES
F E R R Y
M F N ’ S SFRVICES
N A H SERVICES
ROPY THERAPIES
M AKF-U P ARTISTRY
p y MASKS
fill
HAIR SERVICE
with its products.
Work-at-home schemes appeal to
consumers because they make the prom
ise o f "quick and easy” money. When
tempted by work-at-home promotions,
— — »’
SPA PACKAGES
M ASSAG E
/ SHOWER
FREM ONT
consumers should rememberthey could:
1) Lose M oney - victims have lost
amounts ranging from $10 to $70,000.
2) Damage Their Reputation - victims
I T
W A y
o
F
L I L Î