How Can HUD Help You?

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HUD stands for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This agency oversees the Federal Housing Association (FHA), affordable housing programs, and more. They are also responsible for setting and enforcing housing laws to ensure that every U.S. resident has a fair chance. 

In this post, you will learn more about what HUD does and how they can help your situation. 

HUD: An Overview

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was formed in 1965. Today, the agency employs over 8,000 individuals throughout the U.S. Each year, HUD spends over $50 billion in U.S. tax dollars on public housing assistance, community planning and development, and other housing programs.

The main agency within HUD is the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA’s main goal is to ensure that as many people can get their own home as possible. So, they have programs that help first-time homebuyers, and low and median-income people, get mortgage loans to buy a house. 

The FHA also backs many mortgage loans, which means that they offer insurance to lenders if the borrowers stop paying their loans. As a result, lenders are more willing to hand out mortgages to low-income individuals, and more people get into their own homes.

Next, let’s take a look at the main services that HUD provides.

HUD Services

1. Affordable Housing Assistance

  • Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). Under this program, low and no-income individuals and families can get help paying for their rent. In some cases, extremely low-income people might even get their whole rent payment covered. Rent payment assistance, public housing, and affordable rental housing are all fun by HUD. However, to get help, you have to apply through your local state agency. Find yours here.
  • Veteran Assistance. HUD has special programs for U.S. veterans. Unfortunately, many veterans are facing homelessness and other issues that prevent them from being able to afford their own homes. 

2. Foreclosures

  • Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). The HARP program can help homeowners refinance their homes if their mortgage payments become too expensive. The goal here is to keep people in their own homes if they are not able to afford their mortgage payments. 
  • Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP). The Home Affordable Unemployment Program is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to homeowners that are not able to pay their mortgages due to a job loss.

3. Housing Law Enforcement

  • Fair Lending Practices. HUD requires that mortgage lenders, realtors, and brokers follow very strict rules. That these agents cannot discriminate against people due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, and several other factors. Harsh penalties exist for anyone that breaks these laws. If you have experienced fair lending discrimination, file a complaint here.
  • Housing Discrimination. Lenders, agents, and brokers are not allowed to discriminate in any way when it comes to renting, selling, or servicing properties. HUD oversees this law, and they investigate and enforce any complaints that may arise. If you have experienced housing discrimination, file a complaint here.
  • Disabled Persons. HUD sets the laws and rules regarding the housing rights of people with disabilities. 

How Can HUD Help You?

This depends on your situation. But, as you can see, the HUD oversees pretty much all things housing in the U.S. We hope that this post has helped you understand which programs that you might be eligible for. 

If you have any questions that were not covered in this post, don’t hesitate to reach out to the HUD directly for help. That’s why they are there — to help ensure that all people living in the U.S. have a safe place to live. On this page, you can find the contact information for each HUD agency in the region where you live: HUD’s Local Office Directory.

We are rooting for you in your search for affordable housing.

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