You are probably familiar with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more commonly known as HUD. This department is oversees homes owned by the government and ensures that renters and tenants are treated fairly under the law. The mission of HUD is to provide quality affordable housing for all and to create strong inclusive and sustainable communities.
There are nine key organizations and several other organizations that support the department. One of which is Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). You may be familiar with Fannie Mae as a national mortgage finance company, but Ginnie Mae has the only mortgage-backed security that enjoys the full faith and credit of the US Government. FHA and VA loans are two of the most common loans that are backed by Ginnie Mae.
The Office of Public and Indian Housing ensures safe, affordable housing and creates opportunities for self-sufficiency and economic independence. The Office of Multi-Family Housing is responsible for the overall management, development and direction of HUD’s multi-family housing programs; and the Office of Housing oversees the largest mortgage insurer in the world, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Office of Housing also regulates the housing industry business.
The Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard control is responsible for eliminating the lead-based paint hazard in private homes and low income housing in America. This organization also leads the nation in addressing and education vulnerable residents about housing-related health hazards.
The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity administers and enforces federal laws to ensure Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight is now the Federal Housing Finance Agency. This agency was born out in the wake of the mortgage collapse out of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. The mission of the organization is to provide effective supervision, regulation and housing mission oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and 12 Home Loan Banks to promote their safety and soundness. The organization also supports housing finance, affordable housing and a stable and liquid mortgage market.
The last two key organizations of HUD are the Office of Policy Development and Research and the Community Planning and Development. Both have end goals of improving the lives of Americans and the communities in which they live, work and play. The mission of Policy Development & Research is to move policy and improve American communities and lives by being the preeminent housing and research organization. The Office of Community Planning and Development works toward that end by forming partnerships with all levels of government and private sector including both for profit and not-for-profit agencies.
In the Department of Housing and Urban Development, contract opportunities abound. Any contractors can find opportunities a plethora of opportunities among the five agencies focused of fair/safe housing. In the Fair housing and Equal Opportunity section of the HUD site, www.hud.gov , there is a section devoted to Section 3 Economic Opportunities. For those non-profits, HUD provides grant opportunities as well via the research and development organizations of the department. Just remember that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has opportunities for more than just housing, so happy hunting.
