Issue(s) Addressed: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), representatives from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) along with other public and private partners are working together to address the effects of higher interest rates and skyrocketing property values after the 2004 & 2005 hurricanes and the lack of affordable housing and its affects on first time home buyers. Guest: Armando Fana, Director of the Miami region of HUD, (Florida Keyes – Orlando) Discussed the issues facing first time home buyers and the repercussions that increased the housing strain in Florida, after two record level years of hurricane activities and the rise of interest rates. Future home buyers with soiled credit are finding their way through Florida affordable housing and community resources to prepare there credit scores to be accepted by federal and private lenders. Director Fana also offered HUD’S Fair Housing position to alleviate housing discrimination of minorities, single parent families and the disabled. Darin Woods, Community Development Officer at Washington Mutual in Miami, offered educational and counseling resources to Florida viewers who are trying to improve their credit scores to receive a loan as first time buyers. Darin presented the free programs to potential first time homebuyers and also offered the counseling and direction of faith based organizations that help resolve the credit issues of those who are working to improve their financial credit scores so that they will qualify for a home loan.