NEWS RELEASE

WASHINGTON - As tens of thousands of American families face the uncertainty of having a breadwinner activated for military duty, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today released information about protective measures the federal government has in place to shield those families from financial hardship, including loss of their home.

"Our Nation stands behind the men and women who are called upon to serve," said HUD Secretary Mel Martinez. "The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act enables our military forces to focus on combating evil without having to worry about their families at home."

The 1940 Act applies to reservists and members of the National Guard who are called to active duty. To better explain the protections offered by the Act, HUD said today that it is working with the Department of Defense to provide fact sheets, in both English and Spanish, to American servicemen and servicewomen. Some of the Act's protections include:

• Mortgage Relief: Under certain conditions, active duty military or their dependents may receive temporary relief from paying a mortgage.
• Termination of Leases: Members of the military just entering active duty may be able to terminate a lease without repercussions, if certain conditions are met.
• Protection from Eviction: An active-duty member of the military who leases a house or apartment can prevent an eviction for a period of time, usually three months, if the rent does not exceed $1,200 a month and the active duty status impacts his or her ability to pay rent.
• Six Percent Cap on Interest Rates: Under the SSCRA, a military member can cap the interest rate at six percent for all obligations, including mortgages, entered into before beginning active duty.
• Stay of Proceedings: If an active duty member of the military is sued, he or she can have the proceedings postponed.
• Reopening Default Judgments: If a default judgment is issued against an active military member, he or she can reopen the judgment once certain conditions are met.

The SSCRA provides many more protections beyond those listed above. The DOD makes available military legal assistance attorneys to provide guidance on the SSCRA and its provisions.

In addition, HUD operates HUDVET, a resource center for servicemen and servicewomen who have questions about the protections provided by the SSCRA. The toll-free number for HUDVET is 800-998-9999 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays. The website address is www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/hudvet.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov.