HUD Information by State

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is part of the executive branch of the U.S. government. Funded in 1965, HUD develops housing policies and administers housing programs to help the general public. HUD works with local governments and maintains offices in all 50 states and U.S. Territories.

This FindLaw article gives a brief overview of HUD and provides links to HUD state offices.

What Is HUD?

HUD is a department of the federal government’s executive branch. It is a cabinet-level department headed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Like many other cabinet-level positions, the Senate must approve the secretary’s appointment.

HUD Programs

HUD covers many different areas of housing in the U.S. These areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Affordable housing
• Community development
• Mortgage and loan help through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
• Public and Indian Housing (Native American)
• Fair Housing (anti-discrimination)
• Housing assistance programs
• Rental assistance/rent relief

HUD helps citizens with a wide array of housing matters. HUD can assist with the following:

• Accessibility or discrimination issues
• Looking for affordable housing
• Obtaining an FHA home loan

While HUD is available for everyone, it specializes in helping low-income families find adequate housing.

Fair Housing

HUD’s fair housing programs address housing discrimination on the federal level through the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 . This Act prohibits real estate professionals from making adverse decisions based on protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Race
• Gender
• Sexual orientation/identity
• Disability
• Religion
• National origin
• Familial status

Housing discrimination is when a landlord uses discriminatory language in a rental advertisement or excludes someone from being a tenant for any of the reasons above. If you have experienced housing discrimination, you can file a complaint with HUD.

HUD Housing Assistance Programs

HUD has many housing assistance programs to help renters, prospective homeowners, and landlords. Let’s take a look at each of them:

Renters

HUD offers housing choice vouchers for low-income families, older people, and disabled people. These vouchers help ensure that vulnerable populations can access decent, safe, and sanitary housing on the private market. Local public housing agencies (PHA) administer housing choice vouchers.

Housing choice voucher recipients look a prospective home that meets the requirements for the voucher. Once they find an apartment, single-family home, or townhome, the PHA pays the landlord directly. The voucher recipient is responsible for paying for the balance. Anyone interested in a housing choice voucher program should contact their local PHA for more information, including requirements.

Prospective Homeowners

HUD helps first-time homebuyers through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA backs mortgage loans by providing mortgage insurance on home loans by FHA-approved mortgage lenders.

Prospective homebuyers can also consider HUD homes, which are often on the market due to foreclosures on an FHA-backed home loan. Interested homebuyers can use the HUD Home Store website search feature to locate available HUD properties in their area. HUD sells single-family and multifamily homes. Interested parties need a HUD-approved real estate broker to submit a bid on their behalf to purchase one of the HUD homes for sale.

Community Revitalization

HUD helps revitalize communities through the Community Block Grants Program. This program gives block grants every year to states, cities, and counties to aid in the development of urban communities through the following activities:

• Providing safe, clean housing
• Expanding economic opportunities for low-and moderate-income individuals

Recipients of Community Block Grants can use the grants in the following ways:

• To purchase real property
• To rehabilitate residential and non-residential buildings
• To construct or improve public facilities (water, sewer, etc.)
• To assist nonprofit organizations as they build economic development and create jobs

These activities help revitalize communities by:

• Preventing or eliminating blight
• Addressing urgent community development needs that threaten human health and safety

Those interested in getting a Community Block Grant should research the program at HUD.

Housing Inspections

Through the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC), HUD inspects public and (HUD-funded) multifamily housing every one to three years. These inspections ensure the housing is decent, safe, and sanitary. The REAC provides independent, actionable assessments that help policymakers understand the condition of the U.S. national housing portfolio.

Before 1998, these housing inspections varied among state HUD Offices. Today, HUD has uniform inspection rules to meet three objective standards. These rules include the following:

• Consistent physical condition standards for all HUD housing
• Standard inspections to help determine compliance with HUD standards
• Implementing an electronic inspection system to help objectively evaluate HUD properties

The standards are designed to keep housing safe and fair.

Filing a Complaint With HUD

Consumers can file complaints with the respective HUD program offices if they find themselves facing any of the following:

• Housing discrimination
• Housing voucher
• Public housing issues
• Issues with multifamily properties

HUD’s Multifamily Housing Clearing House supports residents of HUD-insured or HUD-assisted housing in filing complaints about the following:

• Uninhabitable housing conditions
• Mismanagement
• Poor maintenance

Residents or community members can call the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line for help. People who have experienced housing discrimination can file complaints online, via phone, or by regular mail. You can also contact your regional HUD office for help filing a complaint. To help, we’ve include links to the HUD office in every state.

Get Legal Help

If you or a loved one is dealing with issues related to a HUD housing program or initiative, a government services attorney can help. These lawyers are experts at helping people eligible for government assistance. Many attorneys offer a payment plan. Consider reaching out to an experienced local government assistance attorney for legal assistance.