Office of the State Treasurer: New Program to Loan Kansans $60 million to Build Homes
- Half will go to areas of state gravely affected by storms and severe weather in 2007.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER

June 17, 2008

Contact: For more information, call:
Jenalea Randall, Spokesperson
(785) 296-3342 (Office)
(785) 213-2515 (Cell)
jenalea@treasurer.state.ks.us


(TOPEKA, Kan.) -Today, Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA, announced that the Kansas Housing Loan Deposit Program, passed by the Kansas Legislature during the 2007-08 legislative session and administered by the State Treasurer's office, will begin accepting applications and approving loans on July 1, 2008. The program will provide up to $60 million in low-interest housing development loans statewide, but $30 million of it will go to citizens living in areas of the state which face particular need because of the devastating weather and storms of 2007.

The designated cities include: Chanute, Coffeyville, Erie, Fredonia, Greensburg, Independence, Iola, Neodesha, and Osawatomie. Qualifying homes include those that initially sell at or below 350 percent of the Kansas median household income of the previous year as stated by the US Census Bureau. For 2008, this figure is $159,173.

"Citizens across the state, not just Kansans living in the designated areas, are encouraged to take advantage of this program," said Treasurer Jenkins. "Call your bank today to start rebuilding."

Information has been sent to nearly 350 banks across the state, but information can also be found on http://www.KansasStateTreasurer.com or by calling 785-296-3171. Click on "Home Loan Deposit Program" on the front page to learn more and download documents.

"The Kansas Housing Loan Deposit program is a great example of government seeing a need for the state's citizens and moving quickly to fill it," said Treasurer Jenkins.

Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was re-elected to her second term as Kansas State Treasurer on Nov. 7, 2006. During her time as Treasurer, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest and oversaw the re-bidding of the program, returned an average of $9 million a year in unclaimed property to Kansans, initiated multiple financial literacy programs, and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner.