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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE CONTACT:
Susan Krimer
Yancy
Friday, September 16,
2005
301-962-5505;
Myriam Torrico
240-777-3627
COUNTY
HOUSING
FAIR AND CONSUMER PROTECTION DAY
TO BE HELD
IN
GAITHERSBURG
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2005
MPDU LOTTERY DRAWING TO BE HELD
AT 12:30 P.M.
Fairgoers will be eligible for
cash prizes of $500, other prizes during random drawings
SENIOR WORKSHOPS ON MEDICARE TO
BE OFFERED;
FREE CREDIT REPORT, COUNSELING
ON SITE
For the
fifth consecutive year, a group of government agencies,
Montgomery
County
nonprofit associations and community organizations will be holding a free,
day-long event designed to give consumers the latest information about
housing and consumer protection.
The fair, to
be held on Saturday, October 1, 2005, will take place at the
Activity
Center
at
Bohrer
Park,
Summit Hall Farm (located next to
Gaithersburg
High
School)
at
506 S. Frederick Ave.
in
Gaithersburg.
County
Executive
Doug Duncan (invited), Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz, Housing
Opportunities Commissioner Roberto Pinero, and other county officials will
greet fair attendees.
“Montgomery County
Housing Fair and Consumer Protection Day,” which runs from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m., brings together local housing providers, businesses, government
agencies and community organizations to educate residents about housing
and consumer related services.
“This is the one
place where people can come and learn about the many programs designed to
make it easier for them to buy a home, fix their consumer credit rating,
refinance their home, avoid “housing scams” and other important consumer
information,” said Myriam Torrico, Manager, Hispanic/Latino Initiative,
Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
This year, county
officials have chosen the Fair as the venue to conduct a lottery drawing
for the Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program. The drawing, which
entitles winners the right to purchase a house, townhouse or apartment at
reduced prices, will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Fair. Everyone who has
submitted an application to the county for the MPDU program within the
last 90 days will be eligible to win.
Workshops and
education materials will be available on many housing and consumer
protection issues including: credit; managing money; consumer scams; home
improvements; identity theft; home safety; utility assistance and
conservation; up-to-date information on local housing resources; and
Medicare changes for seniors age 50+.
“Seniors will find
this year’s fair especially helpful. Substantial changes to the Medicare
Regulations, which are going to take effect in 2006, will be discussed and
explained during a special workshop. This will be especially helpful to
seniors and their family members or caregivers,” said Torrico.
Participants will
be able to work with a credit counselor to obtain and analyze a free copy
of their credit report.
The fair will also
feature “American Saver,” a new campaign being launched by the League of
Latin America Citizens (LULAC) to motivate and educate consumers about
increasing their level of savings.
Workshops in
English and Spanish are being planned, as well as a general vendor area
for exhibitors. Attendees can receive one-on-one assistance from vendors
and translation services will be available on-site for non-English
speaking attendees.
Food,
entertainment and raffles will be included as part of the day’s
activities. Six cash prizes of $500, to be used toward a rental or
mortgage payment, will be given out during the fair.
The fair is
organized by the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community
Affairs in partnership with the Housing Fair Planning Committee, whose
members include: the cities of Gaithersburg and Takoma Park; Consumer
Credit Counseling Service of Greater Washington; Habitat for Humanity;
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Housing and Community
Initiatives, Inc.; Fannie Mae; the Housing Opportunities Commission of
Montgomery County; the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; the
Mid-County, UpCounty and Silver Spring Regional Services Centers; Comcast
and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
Further
information about the fair is available on the Department of Housing and
Community Affairs website:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhctmpl.asp?url=/content/dhca/housing/housing_fair/2005/index.asp
or by
calling: 240-777-3636 (ENGLISH ONLY) or 240-777-8043 (SPANISH ONLY).
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