Number	25376
Subject	Federal Government
Source	WBBH-TV (Fort Myers, Fla.)
State	Florida
Year	2011
Publication Date	September 12-13, 2011; September 30, 2011; December 21, 2011; October 28, 2011
Summary	The NBC2 Investigators uncovered wasteful spending in a multi-million dollar federal program mean to re-stabilize neighborhoods hard hit by foreclosures. The program - called NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) - utilized stimulus money approved during the George W. Bush administration to buy foreclosed homes, refurbish them and then sell them to families who would live in them, thus stabilizing a neighborhood. In our area, the program was administered by our county (Lee) and another program was administered by our city (Fort Myers). Our investigation of the county-run program found they were throwing away perfectly good appliances and replacing them with more expensive products. Not only could they have kept those appliances in the home - leaving them more money to refurbish others - but the appliances they did throw away could have gone to people in need in our community. Ultimately, our story forced the county to change policies in the program. They now coordinate with a local non-profit to donate all appliances and equipment once meant for the landfill.
Category	Contest Entry
Pages	18
Keywords	broadcast; neighborhoods; foreclosed homes; appliances
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