Definition
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal agency responsible for:
- Creating and funding most affordable housing policy and programs
- Helping improve and develop local communities
- Enforcing fair housing laws
HUD was created in 1965 as a cabinet-level agency. HUD's annual budget provides funding for most of the programs described on this page. Depending on the program, HUD directs its funding to state governments; non-profit or private housing developers; Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) or other housing agencies. Because housing programs are administered by a variety of agencies, they have different income and eligibility rules and different application and program regulations.
