Legal Definitions - Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a government agency that helps people find affordable housing and enforces fair housing laws. HUD has many programs to help people with different housing needs.

• The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) helps low-income families pay for housing by giving them vouchers to use towards rent.
• The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) give money to local governments to help with community development projects, like building affordable housing.
• The HOME Investment Partnership provides grants to states and local governments to create affordable housing for low-income families.
• The Federal Housing Administration offers mortgage and loan insurance programs to help people with low incomes buy homes.

These programs show how HUD helps people with different housing needs, from paying rent to buying a home.

One of HUD's most important jobs is enforcing fair housing laws. These laws make sure that everyone has equal access to housing, regardless of their race, religion, or other factors. HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity receives complaints about housing discrimination and makes decisions about how to apply fair housing laws.

Overall, HUD is an important agency that helps people find affordable housing and promotes fair housing practices.