The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a U.S. government agency that was created in 1965 as part of then-President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society agenda to expand America’s welfare state. Its primary mission is improving affordable homeownership opportunities to support the housing market and homeownership in inner-city areas.

HUD’s programs are geared toward increasing safe and affordable rental options, reducing chronic homelessness, and fighting housing discrimination by ensuring equal opportunity in the rental and purchase markets.