Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman has been traveling the nation with stops in North Carolina and Wisconsin to discuss lowering housing costs, eliminating housing barriers and growing supply. This surrounds the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The Act helped create the Housing Choice Voucher program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), among other programs.
"The groundbreaking programs we are celebrating today have provided affordable housing to countless Americans in urban, suburban, and rural communities," said Acting Secretary Todman in a release highlighting the anniversary. "These programs demonstrate that when we act boldly, we meaningfully improve people’s daily lives."
Meanwhile, HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Public and Indian Housing Richard Monocchio is taking part in a seven-city roadshow in partnership with the National Apartment Association (NAA) to spotlight the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
PDAS Monocchio's first roundtable discussion with industry professionals was on Aug. 13 in Charlotte, N.C., hosted by the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association.
"NAA is thrilled and humbled to help convene these critical meetings – our members have the lived experience of providing housing to 40 million Americans and are eager to share these important operational insights," said Bob Pinnegar, NAA President and CEO, in a release. "We thank PDAS Monocchio for his willingness to not only hear from housing providers themselves, but to work together to help tackle affordability challenges. Today we celebrate 50 years of the Housing and Community Development Act and look forward to another 50 years of stronger and better housing opportunities."
President Biden said in a statement that the CDBG has helped find people "a safe place to call home...From expanding affordable housing to driving efforts to end veteran homelessness, CDBG has been a light in the lives of millions."
PDAS Monocchio kicked off the partnership in Philadelphia at NAA’s Apartmentalize in June, where he spoke with NAA’s volunteer leaders followed by a property tour at Francis House of Peace, a local affordable housing community. In addition to Philadelphia, PDAS Monocchio will visit: Boston; Charlotte; Cleveland; El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M.; and Tampa, Fla.
"The Biden Administration has made historic investments in the Housing Choice Voucher program and expanded rental assistance to individuals and families in need of a safe, stable home," said PDAS Monocchio in the release. "To ensure the voucher program is as strong and accessible as possible, it is critical for HUD and housing authorities to work with private and nonprofit housing providers. These partnerships at the local level ensure people can move to and live in communities of their choosing in high-quality homes, and HUD is pleased to work with NAA and its members to strengthen those partnerships nationwide."
To learn more about this partnership between NAA and HUD, contact Nicole Upano, NAA's AVP of Housing Policy and Regulatory Affairs, at [email protected] or listen to PDAS Monocchio on the NAA Apartmentcast podcast.