Dear Friends,
More than a year ago, Georgia received $340 million from President Obama's "Hardest Hit Fund" -- known as HomeSafe in Georgia -- to help unemployed homeowners avoid foreclosures. But not enough is being done to get the word out and to get the funds where they are needed most.
 That's why on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Salem Bible Church, I'm co-hosting a community event to help struggling homeowners learn more about HomeSafe. I'm holding the event with HUD-approved counseling agency D&E and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
To pre-qualify and to register, visit D&E’s Web site at depower.org or homeowners can call them at 770-961-6900 or toll-free at 1-877-790-1831.
HomeSafe provides up to an 18-month mortgage-payment bridge to Georgia homeowners who have suffered a substantial income loss due to involuntary unemployment or underemployment and who are able and willing to work.
The event will also provide opportunities for homeowners who do not qualify for HomeSafe to meet with counselors who can check on their eligibility for a loan modification through their lender.
For more information, go to D&E HERE.
The event is free and open to the public. If you've lost your job or you're underemployed and you're having trouble making your mortgage payments, please stop by Salem Bible Church on Saturday, April 28 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to see if HomeSafe can help you.
 WHO: Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), DeKalb County, Department of Community Affairs, D&E.
WHAT: HomeSafe Georgia Foreclosure Prevention Event
WHEN: Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Salem Bible Church: 5460 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia 30058; Exit I-20 Panola Road – Hillandale Drive is one block north of I-20; turn right on Hillandale Drive; Salem Church is less than ¼ mile on the left.
MARTA: MARTA Bus 111 to Panola Road and Hillandale Drive. Click the map to go to Google Maps.
BLACK SHOALS TRAIL: Congratulations to Rockdale County for receiving a $100,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources via the Federal Highway Trust Fund for the Black Shoals Scenic Trail. For more, click HERE.
SUPPLIER CONNECTIONS: A new private-public collaboration will help small businesses strengthen their bottom line by gaining access to more than $300 billion in combined supply chain spending by a consortium of 15 of America’s largest corporations. For more, click HERE.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS: Georgia is receiving nearly $20 million as part of a 26-state, $535 million effort by the U.S. Department of Education's School Turnaround program. For more, click HERE.
 COLOMBIA LABOR RIGHTS: I was recently named to the Congressional Monitoring Group on Labor Rights in Colombia because of my commitment to improve the protections and conditions of labor and human rights. Last week, I issued the a statement from Washington, D.C., regarding the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. To watch, please click the video.
FEMA GRANT: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced that Georgia is receiving $2.3 million for non-disaster funding. For more, click HERE.
TROOPS TO TEACHERS: "Troops to Teachers" is a program that helps eligible veterans (active duty, reservists and retired military) who want to become public school teachers. For more, click HERE.
GWINNETT GRANTS: I'm pleased to announce that Gwinnett County has received $5.8 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDGB), Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) awards.
ARTS AWARDS: I'm proud to say that our very own local PushPush Theater Company in Decatur will receive a $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for 2012. These matching grants help support excellence in the arts, and we're pleased that PushPush was awarded accordingly. To visit PushPush online, click HERE.
RETIRED AMERICANS: I want to thank the Alliance of Retired Americans for honoring me with a “pro-retiree” and “lifetime” perfect score of 100/100. For more, click HERE.
HELPING STUDENTS: House Democrats announced April 24 that we will introduce legislation to keep college students’ loan rates from doubling on July 1st. The “Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012” keeps interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year for the more than 7 million borrowers. This will save the average borrower $1,000 in loan repayment costs. For more, click HERE.
As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.
| April 26, 2012 
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Arthur D. Sidney, Chief of Staff
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Peter Butts
Betty Dixon
Eric C. Hubbard
Ray Khalfani
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Paulette Suggs Washington, D.C.
Scott Goldstein
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Glenn Miles
Jonathan Ossoff
Mark Perkins
Ebony Simpson
Oliver Spurgeon, III
Sascha Thompson
Marybeth Williams |
That's why on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Salem Bible Church, I'm co-hosting a community event to help struggling homeowners learn more about HomeSafe. I'm holding the event with HUD-approved counseling agency D&E and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 
