NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 9, 2009 -- The Board of Directors of Helios Strategic Mortgage Income Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE:HSM - News), formerly known as The Hyperion Brookfield Strategic Mortgage Income Fund, Inc., declared a monthly dividend of $0.0725 per share, payable on January 29, 2009 to stockholders of record on January 22, 2009. The ex-dividend date is January 16, 2009. Based on the NYSE closing price of $6.29 on January 8, 2009, the Fund's yield was 13.83%. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund's average duration, as measured on a net asset basis, was 4.3 years.

Dividends may include net investment income, capital gains and/or return of capital. The dividend yield referenced above is calculated as the annualized amount of the most recent monthly dividend declared divided by the stated stock price.

 

         Portfolio of Investments as of December 31, 2008
         Sector Allocation as a Percentage of Total Assets

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Non-Agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities ("MBS")            32%
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Commercial MBS                                                       17%
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Agency MBS                                                           32%
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Asset-Backed Securities                                               2%
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U.S. Treasury Securities                                             15%
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Other                                                                 2%
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         Credit Allocation as a Percentage of Total Assets

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U.S. Government / Agency and AAA Rated                               76%
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AA Rated                                                              3%
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A Rated                                                               4%
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BBB Rated                                                            12%
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Below Investment Grade                                                5%
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The Fund uses its web site as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Fund is routinely posted on and accessible at www.hyperionbrookfield.com/strategies/retail_funds.htm.

Helios Strategic Mortgage Income Fund, Inc. is managed by Hyperion Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser located in New York City. The firm was founded in 1989 to provide relative value driven fixed income investment strategies, such as core fixed income, high yield, and specialized MBS. Hyperion Brookfield manages approximately $17 billion for a client base including pension funds, financial institutions, mutual funds, insurance companies and foundations. Hyperion Brookfield is a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., a global asset manager focused on property, power and other infrastructure assets with approximately $90 billion of assets under management.

     Contacts:
     Helios Strategic Mortgage Income Fund, Inc.
     Three World Financial Center 200 Vesey Street, 10th Floor
     New York, NY 10281-1010
     1-800-HYPERION