The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a federal government agency responsible for community development and housing programs in the U.S. Its goal is to provide fair and equal housing opportunities for all citizens. In addition, HUD helps with other housing-related issues such as:

• Providing public housing assistance for low-income families, disabled and elderly persons.
• Providing Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to low-income families to help them pay rent.
• Helping low-income families find a place to live by helping landlords reduce unit rents.

Learn About Department of Housing and Urban Development Programs

HUD was founded during President Lyndon B . Johnson’s term and his war on poverty. At first, it was named a Cabinet Departm ent by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act and had many older federal agencies under its wing. Today’s HUD has a goal to assist families and individuals in need of financial means to rent a decent home in a good, safe neighborhood , which will increase the tenants’ standard of living.

HUD administers a number of different programs related t o housing and community matters, such as:

• Funding local organizations, communities and faith centers that assist the homeless.
• Community Development Block Gra nts (CDBG) targeted at helping communities with jobs, housing rehabilitation, economic opportunities and more.
• Providing subsidized housing for individuals and families with low income.
• HUD Section 8 housing vouchers that serve as rent assistance.
• HOME Invest ment Partnership Act grants for development of housing for low-income tenants.
• Loan and mortgage insurance through the Federal Housing Administration.

Learn About HUD’s Section 8 Housing Program

HUD prides in its work with the most vulnerable, underprivileged categories of citizens: disabled persons, elderly citizens, working poor, homeless, minorities and people with AIDS. In addition, it has given over seven million families in the U.S. a home through its public housing programs and still continues to provide housing v ouchers, public housing units, rental subsidies and more. However, HUD’s primary program with the greatest popularity and demand is the Section 8 Housing Program .

HUD administers this program through its public housing agency. Basically, the aim of the Hou sing Choice Voucher is to provide financial assistance to low-income families that they can use towards paying rent for a rental unit of their own choice. This voucher will pay a rent subsidy to the landlord in the amount of the difference between the rent of the unit and the tenant’s part of the rent. Some applicants, if they are eligible, can use their vouchers to make mortgage payments towards buying a home.

HUD additionally expands into program offices offering different services:

• Community Planning and Development
• Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity
• Housing
• Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
• Ginnie Mae
• Public and Indian Housing
• Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
• Office of Hearings and Appeals
• Small/Disadvantaged Business Utilization
• Equal Employment Opportunity

HUD’s official website offers plenty of resources on HUD apartments and HUD homes for sale , FAQ, information about rents, forms, handbooks and publications. You can also search their archives or find specific information on each state’s HUD’s local offices.