US Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD's Mission

HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level.

 

HUD's Seal

On November 10, 1966, the Department of Housing and Urban Development was one year old. At a major press conference, Secretary Robert C. Weaver, HUD's first secretary, unveiled the new Departmental Seal. After approval by the Fine Arts Commission, Secretary Weaver officially approved the seal and had it published in the Federal Register on January 13, 1967.

The description of the seal as printed in the Federal Register (32FR366-67) and incorporated in the Code of Federal Regulations (24CFR subtitle A, Section 11.1 (which has since been removed)) read:

On a white background within a circle composed of the words, "U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development," is an eagle and two stars. The six upper bars depicting the upper portion of the eagle's wings, the torso of the eagle, the star at the right of the eagle, and the words, "U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development," are colored blue. The eight lower bars depicting the lower portion of the eagle's wings and the star at the left of the eagle are colored green."

The seal was created for use as an authenticating device for all official Departmental documents. It also appears on HUD letterheads, flags, plaques, publications and displays.

The Departmental Seal is a novel representative of high rise buildings simulating an eagle and giving emphasis to the "urban" in HUD's name. The eagle (here shown abstractly) is a symbol of Federal authority. The use of green symbolizes open space, land, growth and prosperity. The blue in the Seal alludes to the quality of life and environment in America's cities.

The HUD Seal appeared in the Code of Federal Regulations from 1967 through 1995. In 1995, section 11.1 (defining HUD's seal) was removed from the Code of Federal Regulations as part of a general effort to streamline the regulations by removing all nonessential, obsolete, or non-programmatic/regulatory information.

 

HUD's History

1937 U.S. Housing Act of 1937
1965 Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 creates HUD as Cabinet-level agency.
1966 Robert C. Weaver becomes the first HUD Secretary, January 18.
1968 Riots in major cities follow assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Act of 1968 (also known as the Fair Housing Act) outlaws most housing discrimination, gives HUD enforcement responsibility. Housing Act of 1968 establishes Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) to expand availability of mortgage funds for moderate income families using government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
1969 Robert C. Wood receives recess appointment as HUD Secretary, January 7. George C. Romney is appointed HUD Secretary by President Richard M. Nixon, January 22.
1970 Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 introduces Federal Experimental Housing Allowance Program and Community Development Corporation.
1972 Pruitt-Igoe public housing buildings in St. Louis are demolished.
1973 President Nixon declares moratorium on housing and community development assistance. James T. Lynn becomes HUD Secretary, February 2.
1974 Housing and Community Development Act consolidates programs into Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Section 8 tenant-based certificates increase low-income tenants' choice of housing. Gerald R. Ford becomes president following Nixon's resignation.
1975

Carla A. Hills is appointed HUD Secretary, March 10.

1977 Patricia R. Harris is appointed HUD Secretary by President James E. Carter, January 23. Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG) give distressed communities funds for residential or nonresidential use.
1979 Moon Landrieu becomes HUD Secretary, September 24. Inflation hits 19 percent, seriously impacting homebuying and home mortgage loans.
1980 Depository Institutions' Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 changes rules governing thrift institutions, expands alternative mortgages.
1981 Samuel R. Pierce Jr. is appointed HUD Secretary by President Ronald W. Reagan, January 23. Interest rates for FHA-insured mortgages peak at 15.17 percent (up from 7 percent in 1972).
1983 Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 begins Housing Development Action Grant and Rental Rehabilitation programs.
1987 Stewart B. McKinney Act sets up programs to help communities deal with homelessness.
1988 Indian Housing Act gives HUD new responsibilities for housing needs of Native Americans and Alaskan Indians. Housing and Community Development Act allows sale of public housing to resident management corporations. Fair Housing Amendments Act makes it easier for victims of discrimination to sue, stiffens penalties for offenders.
1989 Jack F. Kemp is appointed HUD Secretary by President George H. W. Bush, February 13. Financial Institutions' Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act bails out failing thrift institutions.
1990 Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act emphasizes homeownership and tenant-based assistance, launches HOME housing block grant. Low-Income Housing Preservation and Residential Homeownership Act of 1990 fortifies Federal commitment to preservation of -assisted low-income, multifamily housing.
1992 Federal Housing Enterprises' Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 creates HUD Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight to provide public oversight of FNMA and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
1993 Henry G. Cisneros is named Secretary of HUD by President William J. Clinton, January 22. Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program becomes law as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
1995 "Blueprint for Reinvention of HUD" proposes sweeping changes in public housing reform and FHA, consolidation of other programs into three block grants.
1996 Homeownership totals 66.3 million American households, the largest number ever.
1997 Andrew M. Cuomo is named by President Clinton to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the first appointment ever from within the Department.
1998 HUD opens Enforcement Center to take action against HUD-assisted multifamily property owners and other HUD fund recipients who violate laws and regulations. Congress approves Public Housing reforms to reduce segregation by race and income, encourage and reward work, bring more working families into public housing, and increase the availability of subsidized housing for very poor families.
2000 America's homeownership rate reaches a new record-high of 67.7 percent in the third quarter of 2000. A total of 71.6 million American families own their homes - more than at any time in American history.
2001 Mel Martinez, named by President George W. Bush to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 23, 2001.
2004 Alphonso Jackson, named by President George W. Bush to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 31, 2004. Mr. Jackson is the first Deputy Secretary to subsequently be named Secretary.

 

HUD's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2006 -2011

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued an updated six-year Strategic Plan to guide operations for fiscal years 2006-2011. HUD transmitted the Strategic Plan to Congress on March 31, 2006. The plan reflects the results of a year-long process of assessment, planning, and consultation with both internal and external stakeholders. These stakeholders included HUD's principal staff, program managers and employees, Congressional staff, the Office of Management and Budget, grantees and other partner organizations, and the general public.

The Strategic Plan is structured around a one-page strategic framework that defines HUD's mission, strategic goals, and strategic objectives. HUD has not revised the mission and strategic goals that were established in 2003. The strategic objectives have been updated to reflect current and anticipated needs, conditions, and resources. In addition, the Department has refined and specified new means, strategies, and management initiatives that will be used to accomplish its mission.

The Strategic Plan is the foundation for HUD's performance planning and management. In accord with the Government Performance and Results Act, HUD will implement the long-term performance goals established in the Strategic Plan through annual goal-setting and performance reporting in Annual Performance Plans and Performance and Accountability Reports.

HUD's Strategic Plan FY 2006-2011 is available here: HUD's Strategic Plan 2006-2011

 

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