Congressman Barney Frank, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Senator John F. Kerry today announced that Pro-Home, Inc., the Taunton based affordable housing services organization, will receive $52,500 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) so the group can expand its housing counseling efforts.

In addition to providing homebuyer counseling to communities in and around Taunton, Pro-Home plays a vital role in the City of Taunton’s Comprehensive Plan to provide fair and affordable housing, as well as the development and rehabilitation of area properties.

“I was pleased to support Pro-Home’s application for this funding,” said Frank. “This money will allow Pro-Home to continue to assist area residents by delivering the counseling and skills that will help enable them to make good home ownership and housing decisions.”

“By making these wide-ranging community services more accessible, this grant will expand homeownership opportunities, provide affordable housing, protect borrowers from foreclosure and improve the lives of seniors,” said Senator Kennedy. “I commend HUD for recognizing the needs of the hard-working citizens and elderly homeowners in our Commonwealth.”

“This funding will give hundreds of low-income working people in Taunton a chance to own their own homes,” said Senator Kerry. “Expanding homeownership and improving access to affordable housing for potential homebuyers will help ensure that Taunton remains a diverse and vibrant community for years to come.”

“This funding will help us meet the growing need for more housing counseling, which is particularly important now in light of the housing market in Massachusetts and the fact that the number of foreclosures has more than doubled,” said Mary Ellen Rochette of Pro-Home. “I am very appreciative of the support we have received for our work from our Congressional delegation.”

HUD’s Housing Counseling Program supports a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low-to-moderate income renters, and the homeless.