By Dennis Powell, e-Management
Even though the most recent Housing Scorecard shows the housing market has improved from the dark days of the housing crash, millions of families are without affordable or livable homes. HUD has programs to provide assistance to families and individuals.
Not many people know or remember the Great Society program from the Lyndon Johnson Administration aimed at eliminating inequality and discrimination. Perhaps even fewer know that out of that program came the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agency’s mission is to “create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.” HUD is also charged with protecting consumers and improving the overall U.S. economy.
So Many Programs, So Little Space…
HUD runs numerous programs—too many to list on a blog posting. So, we decided to highlight some of the programs that are helping HUD advance its equality mission.
- Housing for people with low income: HUD is well-known for its Housing Choice Voucher program—often referred to as “Section 8”—which serves more than 3 million low-income homes around the country. The goal of the voucher program is to help struggling families find “decent, safe, and sanitary housing.” The program has its share of critics who say that Section 8 cripples the motivation of tenants to improve their conditions. But the voucher program actually goes beyond what many people think. For instance, the voucher program assists the elderly and persons living with disabilities. Plus, tenants are not required to seek public housing residency. Did you know that landlords, not tenants, receive direct payment through HUD’s Public Housing Authority (PHA)?
- Community planning and development: HUD’S Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) helps low and moderate income families through grants and programs that improve communities and promote economic development and livable environments. CPD partners with commercial enterprises and nonprofits to meet many of its goals. Additionally, CPD grants go toward disaster relief, self-help homeownership opportunity, homeless assistance, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and other programs. Many people would be surprised to know that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which provides social and economic development in Appalachia, is one of CPD’s grant programs.
- The right ‘PATH’ forward: HUD is a forward-thinking agency. Through its Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), the agency coordinates activities of PATH—the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing. PATH brings government agencies and the private sector together to make homes better and safer through greener technology, energy efficiency, durability, and lower building costs. PATH’s focus is innovation and accelerating the adoption of new technologies into the housing market. PATH projects include examining how software is being used to make better homes; developing a “Flood Rehab Guide” publication; and examining how architectural design and technology innovation can actually make homes more affordable.
Is the Future of Housing Looking Up?
According to the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard, a report on the housing market released in early February, shows the housing market has improved from the dark days of the housing crash. Home sales are up and foreclosures are down 33 percent when compared to 2012. With HUD’s programs focused on community development, innovation, and more, home ownership and suitable living conditions could be a reality for more and more Americans. But, (1) are you convinced HUD is doing a decent job with meeting its mission for providing equal access to homes and housing? (2) What role, if any, do you see HUD play in creating a “Great Society?” (3) What are your ideas for getting more Americans into suitable homes regardless of their income?
Tags: ARC, CPD, , , fair housing, federal, Government, HOPWA, housing, HUD, Ola Sage, PHA, R&D, research
I believe the housing market is improving. I think by having more low income families counsel on credit mangement and purschasing of a home will improve the role of HUD in creating a Great Society.
HUD as an agency/program is definitely good for qualifying people and/or getting low income individuals into homes that they can afford. This agency is tasked to equalize the playing field for AMERICANS while ensuring that the market and/or lenders don’t take advantage of the very people that HUD will help. They have great programs and also offer information/training to individuals who are first time home buyers who have no clue as to the ins and outs of purchasing a home. Unfortunately there are too many sharks in the tank that are oh too willing to feed on consumers. I see HUD continuing to protect people while also providing opportunity for investments to be made in communities that benefit everyone. Including builders, lenders, and of course.. CONSUMERS!
I do feel the housing market is improving however many people are still affected. I think HUD is a good example of a housing initiative I wish it could reach more people.
Dennis,
Thank you for providing this information. So many people have misconceptions not only to what the origin of a program was, but also who the programs were targeted towards. Its good to know these services are out there. Let’s make sure those who need to be are those who take advantage of the communal helping hand.
Keep the posts coming!
Brian
@Brian, thank you for stopping and support our blog again. I always learn new things about agencies whenever I do a GOVERNMENT SPOTLIGHT blog posting. There are so many misconceptions about HUD, its programs, and beneficiaries. I hope this summary blog is a good start for people who are unfamiliar with the agency.
@Derek, I agree financial management training is a great way to get more and more people into homes of which they can be proud. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Wow. The words HUD and Section 8 took me back to my childhood for a minute there. Growing up with a single parent and two siblings, I can remember Mom stopping by the HUD office once a week to see where we were on the list. It seemed to take forever to finally qualify for Section 8 and be able to move from the “low rent” apartments to a house with our own bedrooms and front & back yard. Section 8 seemed to be that boost my mom needed and I’m grateful for it.
I haven’t seen or heard of the program(s) in ages but the fact that its still here after 30 years tells me they’re doing something right.
I see HUD as giving someone a step up out of the poverty level and on to a better life which should lead to a great society as a whole.
I’m not sure what I’d do to get more people into suitable homes. I’ll think about it…
Thanks for another brilliant blog! I hadn’t heard of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing before. Sounds innovative and interesting.
Thanks again for telling me something I didn’t already know
@Oona, I think some people are clueless as to how HUD and its programs can help them OR even how those programs have helped their friends or family. I wonder if there needs to be more public information/communications to targeted audiences. Thank you for once again stopping and supporting our blog.
@Tyrone, I love your take on this posting…I think you should have co-written this blog posting with me. Good points about predators in the housing market…let’s hope consumers are wiser today than pre-2008. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and once again supporting our blog.
@Steph, Wow…you are living proof how HUD can help families succeed. Thank you for once again supporting our blog.
The HUD programs are a stepping stone to getting people off the streets and a way for those with a limited or fixed income to keep a roof over their heads.
@Stacey, I agree. HUD initiatives have success stories. I, however, I do think the agency can do a better job bragging about how what they do are transforming families and communities. Thanks for stopping by…
The HUD programs are truly a good way for single moms and low income families to fulfill their dreams of always wanting to own their own home and for less fortunate families to have a roof over their heads. There is always room for improvement for any agency that the public rely on to improve themselves.
Any program that aspires to alleviate poverty at any level will have its inevitable failures and successes. That is so because the issue of societal poverty is complex with a simple solution being quite challenging and difficult. The canons for measuring the success of HUD have to evolve over time as society changes and parameters for poverty also changes. The yardsticks used to evaluate the program in its initial stages should not be used to evaluate the program today. Poverty must be viewed in the context of its deep historical and institutionalized and political roots. The BIG question is this: Are we seriously prepared to tackle housing poverty head on within that framework? If we are not, then maybe HUD with all its merits may be just a “bandaid” approach. Sadly, the issue is so great that a bandaid approach may be all that we are capable of doing. HUD has to not only remain, but it should be expanded.
Great information. People need to know more about HUD….and sometimes people think “section 8″ is always a bad thing….but section 8 put people up in the nicest places. Section 8 is not always a slum as we may think it is.
@Steven, “Section 8″ definitely has a negative connotation to it; but the reality is that for some, Section 8 brings stability to family and allows everyone–especially children succeed. Thank you for stopping by.
@Keith, you’ve given us a lot of food for thought. I believe reducing poverty is complex and there must be multiple solutions to the issue.
@Leon, I agree with you. There are a lot of successful people who grew in homes that were possible because of HUD. Thank you for stopping by.
I work with families who live in temporary housing or shelters. I think HUD as an agency has a lot to offer communities. Many of the people I work with are critical of PATH.
Being homeless or needed housing can be a very stressful situation to be in, however, I have seen the good work that they are doing. Providing housing for those who need it but I am also impressed with how they have worked with families who are struggling to get citizenship.
I would like HUD to do more outreach. To have a stronger presence in communities in terms of an effective information campaign.
@Darryl, I agree HUD needs to do public information campaigns to get the word out about what they are doing to improve the lives of millions, as well as how the agency’s work have a positive long-term effect on the economy. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience with HUD.