Department of Housing and Urban Development

www.hud.gov

About HUD

There are also nine other press officers who deal with specific subject areas.

Boosting homeownership is only one of HUD's missions. The agency also enforces fair housing laws, encourages and funds community development (a very broad category of programs), and deals with foreclosures, Indian housing, lead hazards, public housing, renters, homebuyers, developers, brokers, mayors, etc.  Poor people are the main customers, but they don't necessarily have the most clout with HUD.

The agency had nearly 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $41.5 billion in fiscal 2009. By far the biggest chunk goes to the Section 8 rent-subsidy program – vouchers managed by local housing agencies and issued to low-income families and seniors.  Waiting lists can be 10 years long in some cities.  There's never enough funding.  In cities with apartment shortages, many landlords won't take the vouchers.  And public housing projects are being torn down, now that everyone realizes they perpetuate crime and poverty.

Keep in mind that while housing policy is set in Washington, it's carried out locally by agencies that report to HUD but aren't part of it. So stories involving HUD aren't necessarily about HUD.  Those that are – malfeasance, budget cuts, housing shortages and such – often bubble up through local advocates and officials, or national advocacy groups.

The best stories have a human element and tenants (or in the case of community development issues) can be found through local advocates, tenants unions and community organizers.

If you've got a troubled local housing or community development agency, sign up for email alerts from the HUD inspector general. They do a lot of audits.

The current secretary, Shaun Donovan, was previously housing commissioner for
New York city.

Many groups work with or keep tabs on HUD: low-income advocates, public housing professionals, trade groups, think tanks and academics.

Location

Interest Groups and Advocates

National Low Income Housing Coalition
www.nlihc.org   202-662-1530
Very helpful. HUD's main foil on issues that impact the poor.
Sheila Crowley, President

National Housing Law Project
www.nhlp.org   202-347-8775
HQ in Oakland, CA (time difference is useful on late-breaking stories) 510-251-9400

Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
www.cbpp.org   202-408-1080
Liberal-leaning think tank. Known for quality analysis, though.
Barbara Sard is director of housing policy. Focuses on vouchers and other subsidized housing. Oft-quoted. Expert on welfare, homelessness, housing.
Michelle Bazie is deputy director of communications, 202-408-1080 ext. 334, bazie@cbpp.org

Professional Associations

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
www.nahro.org   202-289-3500
NAHRO (pronounced NAY-row) represents nearly all local housing authorities. Deals with most aspects of HUD, from public housing to Section 8 vouchers to community development.  Can be a bit guarded but they know their stuff.  Poke around the website and look for ``regions” -- you'll get phones and emails for housing directors across the country.
Executive Director Saul Ramirez Jr. was deputy HUD secretary in the Clinton administration, under Andrew Cuomo. John Bohm is head of legislative and media affairs, jbohm@nahro.org

Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
www.clpha.org   202-638-1300
Represents the 60 biggest housing authorities, representing nearly half of public housing and a third of the voucher program. Names and numbers easy to find on website, along with lots of good background info and advocacy material. Sunia Zaterman is executive director.

National Community Development Association
www.ncdaonline.org   202-293-7587
Represents more than 550 local governments. Monitors federal Community Development Block Grants. Doesn't seem especially geared toward press relations.

National Council of State Housing Agencies
www.ncsha.org   202-624-7710
This group has sided with HUD on proposals to shift control of voucher funding to the states, arguing that states see the big picture and can allocate resources where they're most needed, whereas local housing agencies just want to protect their turf.

National Housing Conference
www.nhc.org   202-466-2121
Umbrella group for government housing pros, bankers, developers, builders, residents etc. Michele Anapol is director of communications, 202-466-2121 x226, manapol@nhc.org  President and CEO, Conrad Egan is a former HUD official with experience in housing authorities and the apartment industry.

Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University
www.jchs.harvard.edu    617-495-7908
Just what you'd expect from the folks in Cambridge. Experts, research, etc.

Trade Groups

National Leased Housing Association
www.hudnlha.com  202-785-8888
Represents developers, housing authorities and others.

National Association of Home Builders
www.nahb.org  Public Affairs: 202-266-8473
Slick website, lots of info and research, much of which would probably interest only a business writer. All kinds of national, state and local statistics readily available – housing trends, interest rate forecasts, economic analysis. Links to local builders. Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter on industry news and trends. Paul Lopez is director of media relations, 202-266-8409.

National Association of Realtors
www.realtors.org    Public Affairs  202-383-7515
The nice folks with the shingles and commissions provide all kinds of info on legislation and policy.  Click ``government affairs.” Lots of lobbyists and analysts. Lucien Salvant is managing director of public affairs, 202-383-1176, lsalvant@realtors.org.

Other resources

Council for Affordable & Rural Housing – www.carh.org, 703-837-9001

Housing Assistance Council (rural housing issues) – www.ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600. Leslie Strauss is director of communications, 202-842-8600 ext. 141,  leslie@ruralhome.org.

Housing Research Foundation (studies low income housing) – www.housingresearch.org.

National Alliance to End Homelessness – www.naeh.org  202-638-1526

National Housing Institute (studies the housing crisis)  -- www.nhi.org, 973-763-0333
HUD Office of Policy Development & Research (info service and clearinghouse, tons of material) www.huduser.org.

Public Housing Authorities Directors Association -- www.phada.org, Tim Kaiser is
executive director, 202- 546-5445 (contact Gwen Lyda to schedule interviews with Tim, glyda@phada.org.)

Urban Institute (studies housing, poverty, urban issues. Experts available) -- www.urban.org.

Key Lawmakers

Senate Banking Housing and Urban Affairs committee
202-224-7391
Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-CT
Ranking member Richard Shelby, R-AL

Housing, Transportation, & Community Development subcommittee
Chairman Robert Menendez, D-NJ
Ranking member David Vitter, R-LA

Senate Appropriations –HUD subcommittee
202-224-7363
Chairman Patty Murray, D-NY
Ranking member Christopher Bond, R-MO

House Appropriations –HUD subcommittee
202-225-2141
Chairman John W. Olver, D-MA
Ranking member Tom Latham, R-IA

House Financial Services – Housing and Community Opportunity subcommittee
202-225-4247
Chairman Maxine Waters, D-CA
Ranking member Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV

Does this agency's information need updating? programs@nationalpress.org