Department+of+Housing+and+Urban+Development

Department of Housing and Urban Development



The current Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development is Shaun Donovan. He is a former New York City housing commissioner and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Shaun Donovan was unanimously confirmed Secretary by the Senate on January 22, 2009. The Department of Housing and Urban Development was established on September 9th, 1965. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act into law and the Department became official.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) supports home ownership, access to affordable housing, and the development of communities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has many important jobs such as supporting the housing market and economic recovery, improving the way federal dollars are spent, and protecting housing opportunities for the highly disadvantaged. __Supporting the Housing Market and Economic Recovery__ The HUD improves public housing and greatly influences the recovery of surrounding neighborhoods by putting 250 million dollars in investments in neighborhoods that are currently in poverty. The HUD also invests in sustainable communities by putting 150 million dollars into the development of communities. __Improving the Way Federal Dollars Are Spent__ The HUD works to ensure that economically troubled communities use Federal funds in a more strategic way. The strategic usage of Federal funds allows for job creation and economic development within the communities. __Protecting Housing Opportunities for the Highly Disadvantaged__ The HUD provides a total of 35 billion dollars for the preservation of rental housing assistance for nearly 5 million low-income families. They also continue to work towards the end of homelessness, particularly among veterans and families, by providing about 2.5 million dollars towards the cause.