The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is an important agency and resource for Americans at all economic levels. It is HUD’s mission to help “provide a decent, safe, and sanitary home and suitable living environment for every American.” This is accomplished by the agency in many different ways. Some important examples include:

• The creation of opportunities for   homeownership

• Providing housing assistance for low-income persons

• Working to create, rehabilitate and maintain the nation's affordable housing

• Enforcing the nation's fair housing laws

• Helping the homeless

• Spurring economic growth in distressed neighborhoods

• Helping local communities to meet their development needs.

HUD was created in 1965, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act created the cabinet-level agency. While it has origins in the US Housing Act of 1937, HUD really came to the forefront after the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (also known as the Fair Housing Act). This important act outlawed housing discrimination and gave HUD the responsibility of enforcement. Around the same time, The Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) was also established to help moderate-income families gain access to mortgage funds. Through the years, HUD has created policy and been involved with many other important acts and programs created to provide for things like increasing home ownership, public housing reform, and various community development programs.

HUD’s website illustrates the extensive range of issues that relate to Housing and Urban Development. The site is a well-organized resource with information on buying, selling, and renting. Issues relating to fair housing, housing discrimination, and foreclosure are also covered. In addition, there is information regarding the homeless, public housing assistance, low and middle-income families, communities, and economic development. Up-to-date news and information regarding loans and FHA refunds-- in fact, everything from community grants to home improvement advice can be accessed here. Or if you prefer, you may visit your local HUD office. 

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Last year, Mel Martinez was named by President George W. Bush to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 23, 2001, Martinez is the second Hispanic to hold this important position; in 1993, President Clinton named Henry Cisneros to the post. 

The Blueprint for the American Dream

In 2000, America's homeownership rate reached a new record-high of 67.7 percent. At last count, a total of 71.6 million American families own their homes - more than at any time in American history. Unfortunately, though, not all Americans have benefited. While three-quarters of white Americans own their own homes, less than half of all African Americans and Hispanic Americans are homeowners. Even with a surge in homeownership during the 1990's, the homeownership gap between minority and white households declined by just 1.5 percentage points. This is a serious problem, particularly since homeownership is the single most powerful tool a family can use to improve its quality of life.

To help address this discrepancy, in June 2002, President George W. Bush announced a dramatic plan to help close the homeownership gap by increasing minority homeownership by 5.5 million families before the end of the decade. He challenged the public and private sectors to work together to reach or exceed that goal. The result is the creation of an unprecedented public/ private partnership - the “Blueprint for the American Dream” - that is tearing down barriers to minority homeownership and working to help millions of minority families reap the economic benefits of homeownership. There are two dozen member groups in the Blueprint Partnership, and they bring together the individual strengths of government, the real estate and mortgage finance industry, affordable housing groups and advocacy organizations. 

Working together, the Blueprint Partners identified four key areas they should focus on to increase minority homeownership, and made specific commitments to take action in one or more Pathways to Homeownership: 

•  homeownership education and housing counseling;

• increasing the supply of affordable homes;

• giving families new options for upfront funds like the down payment; and improving mortgage lending by increasing funds for affordable loans and redoubling efforts to root out illegal discrimination. 

For more information, or for employment opportunities go to Careers at HUD

HUD Office of Inspector General

Or visit a local HUD office near you.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street S.W.,
Washington, DC 20410

Telephone: (202) 708-1112 
TTY: (202) 708-1455