As many as 30,000 units are opting out of the Section 8 assisted housing program. Waiting lists for housing assistance are growing as the income gap widens. Funds are being earmarked for construction and management of subsidized housing. The programs are also designed to accomplish other public purposes, such as Brownfield remediation. The strong economy makes public-private partnerships more effective.
Government guarantees on debt create opportunities for enhanced returns to investors.
As home to the agencies charged with putting the government's housing policies into action, the department determines procedures and establishes baselines that are carried into general real estate practice. For this reason, all professionals involved in the industry should have a general understanding of HUD s programs, and a specific knowledge of the programs involving their particular specialty. Even though homeownership rates are increasing across the country, HUD is concerned with the growing disparity in housing options between the rich and poor. This creates a difficult situation, with more Americans owning homes, while those who cannot afford homeownership are faced with a shortage of affordable housing. HUD is working to provide opportunities for the real estate industry to join partnerships that benefit both the private and public sectors of the economy.