Citigroup Foundation Provides Funding for Homeownership Education

The Citigroup Foundation has come through in a big way for South Dakota home buyers. Citigroup's funding of $75,000 to the Homeownership Education Resource Organization (H.E.R.O.) will help educate more than 1,200 people in the home buying process and keep H.E.R.O.'s mission moving forward.

"Citigroup realizes the vital importance of home buyer education in strengthening American communities," said Bob Sutton, Vice President of Government & Public Affairs, Citibank South Dakota, NA. "The Citigroup Foundation has a wide range of support, with community development and education as a priority. Offering this funding will allow homebuyer education providers in South Dakota greater opportunities to help more residents overcome any possible barriers of homeownership." Companies within Citigroup's umbrella in South Dakota are Citibank South Dakota, NA; Salomon Smith Barney; Prime America; and CitiFinancial.

H.E.R.O. is a South Dakota non-profit established to aid professional agencies statewide in the implementation, frequency, and efficiency of providing homebuyer education. The Homeownership Education Resource Organization will use the funding received to provide direct cost reimbursement to homebuyer education providers in South Dakota, allowing them to provide additional services to residents.

H.E.R.O. partners currently include Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls; Consumer Credit Counseling Services of the Black Hills; the Sioux Empire Housing Partnership; Neighborhood Housing Services of the Black Hills, Inc.; Homes Are Possible, Inc.; the Northeastern South Dakota Community Action Program; Beadle and Spink Enterprise Community; and the Huron Housing & Redevelopment Authority.

"Three years ago housing industry leaders met with an idea of a single entity that would help South Dakota obtain additional funding for home buyer education," said Dar Baum, SDHDA Executive Director. "We are extremely appreciative of Citibank South Dakota and the Citigroup Foundation for recognizing the validity of our goals and expanding H.E.R.O. with this funding."

H.E.R.O. also recently received funding from the South Dakota Housing Development Authority, the governing body of this non-profit.

Anyone interested in learning more about home buyer education opportunities in South Dakota is encouraged to contact Paul Kostboth, State Coordinator for the Homeownership Education Resource Organization by phone at 605-773-2466, or by E-mail to paul@sdhda.org.

The South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) is an independent, quasi-public agency that finances and develops affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income residents throughout South Dakota. SDHDA is totally self-supporting and receives no tax money, appropriations or other funding from the State. SDHDA does not discriminate against any person because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, handicapped, familial status or national origin.