[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 53488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17674]



[[Page 53487]]

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Part IV





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Eligibility of Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians To 
Participate in the Officer Next Door Sales Program; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 173 / Thursday, September 8, 2005 / 
Notices

[[Page 53488]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4712-N-02]


Eligibility of Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians To 
Participate in the Officer Next Door Sales Program

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the eligibility of firefighters and 
emergency medical technicians to purchase HUD-acquired homes located in 
HUD-designated revitalization areas at a discount, in accordance with 
HUD's regulations for the Officer Next Door (OND) Sales Program. 
Inclusion in the OND Sales Program is designed to help more 
firefighters and emergency responders become homeowners, and will 
further the goals of the OND Sales Program to accelerate the 
revitalization of America's cities by promoting the integration of 
dedicated role models and mentors into the community. Elsewhere in 
today's Federal Register, HUD has published a proposed rule that would 
establish the Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) Sales Program. The GNND 
Sales Program would build upon and replace the existing OND Sales 
Program and Teacher Next Door Sales Program, combining them into one 
broader program. The proposed rule, when made final, will codify the 
eligibility of law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters and 
emergency medical technicians to participate in the new Good Neighbor 
Next Door Sales Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph McCloskey, Director, Office of 
Single Family Asset Management, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 9172, Washington, DC 20410-
8000; telephone (202) 708-1672 (this is not a toll-free number). 
Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may access this number through 
TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Officer Next Door (OND) Sales Program enables eligible law 
enforcement officers to assist in the revitalization of economically 
distressed neighborhoods. Under the OND Sales Program, full-time law 
enforcement officers may purchase HUD-acquired homes located in HUD-
designated revitalization areas at a 50 percent discount from list 
prices. The home must be the law enforcement officer's sole residence 
during a prescribed owner-occupancy term. HUD's regulations for the OND 
Sales Program are located in subpart F of 24 CFR part 291 (entitled 
``Disposition of HUD-Acquired Single Family Properties''). The success 
of the OND Sales Program led to the development of the Teacher Next 
Door (TND) Sales Program, which enables teachers to purchase HUD-
acquired homes located in revitalization areas at a discount from list 
prices. HUD announced the creation of the TND Sales Program through a 
Federal Register notice published on December 7, 1999 (64 FR 68370).

II. This Notice

    This notice builds upon the success of both the OND and TND Sales 
Programs by expanding eligibility to include firefighters and emergency 
medical technicians. As with law enforcement officers and teachers, the 
daily responsibilities of firefighters and emergency medical 
technicians reflect a high level of commitment to public service and 
represent a nexus to the needs of the communities they serve. The 
expansion of eligibility will help more firefighters and emergency 
medical technicians become homeowners, and will further the goals of 
the OND and TND Sales Programs to accelerate the revitalization of 
America's cities by promoting the integration of dedicated role models 
and mentors into the community.
    Firefighters and emergency medical technicians will be able to 
participate under, and subject to, the regulations for the OND Sales 
Program codified at 24 CFR part 291, subpart F. To qualify as an 
eligible firefighter or emergency medical technician, an individual 
must be employed as a full-time firefighter or emergency medical 
technician by a fire department or emergency medical services responder 
unit of the federal government, a state, a unit of general local 
government, or an Indian tribal government serving the area where the 
home is located. The employment requirement must be satisfied both at 
the time the firefighter or emergency medical technician submits a bid 
to purchase the home, and at the time of closing on the purchase of the 
home.
    Elsewhere in today's Federal Register, HUD has published a proposed 
rule for public comment that would establish regulations for a new Good 
Neighbor Next Door (GNND) Sales Program. The GNND Sales Program would 
replace and build upon the success of the OND and TND Sales Programs, 
and include as eligible participants, law enforcement officers, 
teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. Interested 
persons should refer to the proposed rule for additional information on 
the GNND Sales Program. The public comment period for the proposed rule 
closes on November 7, 2005. HUD will consider all public comments in 
the development of the final rule.

    Dated: August 29, 2005.
Brian D. Montgomery,
Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 05-17674 Filed 9-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-27-P