News Release

HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY SERVES LUNCH AT AREA SHELTER IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today joined HUD staff to serve lunch at So Others Might Eat (SOME), in recognition of National Volunteer Week. SOME is a community-based organization that provides daily needs such as clothing, healthcare, and serves nearly 1,000 meals to men, women, and children each day.

"The services provided by SOME and other organizations like it are critical to restoring hope and dignity to those less fortunate and breaking the cycle of homelessness," said Bernardi. "I am pleased to participate in SOME's efforts to reach out to those in need, and I hope others are encouraged to participate in National Volunteer Week."

SOME was founded nearly 38 years ago, serving its first meals out of a basement of a church and later evolving into an organization that provides a variety of supportive services to homeless and elderly persons. These services, which are supported by funding from HUD's Continuum of Care grants, include affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, mental health counseling, and child care. In Fiscal Year 2008, $1.5 billion in Continuum of Care grants were awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients, including $938,946 to SOME.

"Volunteer to Change the World" is the theme of this year's National Volunteer Week, which highlights the countless acts of kindness across the United States that are changing America and the world for the better. National Volunteer Week recognizes the millions of volunteers who offer their time and talents to help those in need and create positive and lasting change in communities.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and 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 and espanol.hud.gov. For more information about FHA products, please visit www.fha.gov.