Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Index of articles from Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS

Frequently Asked Questions about HUD

What Is the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)?

Created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established as a Cabinet Department by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3532-3537), effective November 9, 1965. It consolidated a number of other older federal agencies.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the Federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop the Nation's communities, and enforce fair housing laws. HUD's business is helping create a decent home and suitable living environment for all Americans, and it has given America's cities a strong national voice at the Cabinet level.

What Is HUD's Mission?

HUD is the Federal agency that works to help the nation's communities meet their development needs, spur economic growth in distressed neighborhoods, provide housing assistance for the poor, help rehabilitate and develop moderate and low-cost housing, and enforce the nation's fair housing laws.

In an age of shrinking Federal budgets, HUD is focusing its resources on providing housing and economic development opportunities where they are most needed and can be best utilized through local planning.

HUD plays a major role in supporting homeownership by underwriting homeownership for lower- and moderate-income families through its mortgage insurance program.

What Are HUD's Major Programs?

The primary programs administered by HUD include:

• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to help communities with economic development, job opportunities and housing rehabilitation.

• Subsidized housing in the form of Section 8 certificates or vouchers for low income households.

• Subsidized public housing for low-income individuals and families.

• Homeless assistance in a "continuum of care," through local communities and nonprofit organizations.

• HOME Investment Partnership Act block grants to develop and support affordable housing for low-income residents.

• Fair housing public education and enforcement.

• Mortgage and loan insurance through the Federal Housing Administration.