HUD, What Is It and What Can It Do For You?

In the beginning, there was the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, taking care of housing grants. It was created in 1934, when, because of the Depression, the construction industry was DOA. The FHA was primarily mortgage insurance-based, but helped fund building for the next three decades.

In 1965, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, was created and into which the FHA was absorbed. HUD then proceeded to fund building for single family homes, multi-family buildings, Section 8 housing, grants and much more.

What Does The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Do?

If it has to do with housing, the HUD is there. Homelessness is served by their grants to local and state governments. Housing for the disabled is also served by the HUD, via local and state authorities. Did you know that health-care facilities are also served by this US department?

Grants and loans to revitalize housing facilities for senior care, rehab, assisted living, hospitals and more can be found listed on HUD’s website. First time homeowners, widows and the single with children can be helped by HUD grants and loans. Funding for rural endeavors, Native American housing, and even those victimized by terrorism may be funded through HUD.

Who Would Have Thought?

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, cares deeply about the homeless and their plight. If the homeless are so because of economic distress, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, drug or alcohol dependencies or other reasons, HUD stands ready to help. Not only that, they fund local and state resources for the comfort of the homeless. For persons wishing to help in this endeavor, they have pages on their website for their information and education. For persons wishing to use properties for the benefit of the homeless, such information is also available.

Follow HUD On Twitter…

There, you can find out for example that the HUD has filed a discrimination suit on behalf of a single mother and her son! Fair housing is, after all, one of the things it is all about.

You will also read about its involvement in disaster recovery and rebuilding, another of HUD’s specialties. Read about the fight to end housing discrimination against pregnant women and read about the awards they have received from women organizations in return for simply caring about them.

For news regarding the expected climb in house buying, simply watch CNN, Fox News, or look up Bloomberg, where you will see HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, with a pleased look on his face, explaining that foreclosures are down, rehabilitation of foreclosed neighborhoods is being facilitated with investor money, and buying will be up, estimated to be during the third quarter of 2011. If this trend is accurate, then the economy might slowly be coming back. Which is good news when looking at availability of housing grants.