Legal Definitions - HUD

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a government agency that helps promote affordable housing for lower and middle-income families. They also enforce fair housing standards to prevent discrimination in housing. HUD manages many federal programs for housing and community development.

• The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) helps low-income families pay for housing by providing vouchers that cover part of their rent.
• The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) provide funding to local governments to help improve their communities, such as building affordable housing or improving infrastructure.
• The HOME Investment Partnership provides grants to states and local governments to create affordable housing for low-income families.
• The Federal Housing Administration provides mortgage and loan insurance programs to help low-income individuals access housing loans.

These programs illustrate how HUD works to provide affordable housing and support community development. By providing funding and assistance to individuals and local governments, HUD helps ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.

In addition to these programs, HUD also enforces fair housing laws to prevent discrimination in housing. This includes investigating complaints of discrimination and taking legal action against violators. By enforcing these laws, HUD helps ensure that everyone has equal access to housing, regardless of their race, gender, or other characteristics.