This
website is for the use of HUD program offices, HUD funded recipients,
other Federal Agencies working with HUD, and advocacy groups working
with limited English proficient (LEP) populations. It provides guidance
to HUDs own program staff to follow to ensure that LEP persons
have meaningful access to HUD programs and activities. The implementation
plans show how HUD programs plan to comply with Executive Order
13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited
English Proficiency. While the Executive Order does not impose
any new requirements on Federal agencies, it requires that greater
emphasis be put on existing requirements under Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act to protect persons based on national origin.
I.
Purpose
On
August 11, 2000, Executive Order
13166, titled, "Improving Access to Services by Persons
with Limited English Proficiency, was issued." Executive
Order 13166 requires federal agencies to assess and address the
needs of otherwise eligible persons seeking access to federally
conducted programs and activities who, due to LEP cannot fully and
equally participate in or benefit from those programs and activities.
Section 2 of the Executive Order 13166 directs each federal department
or agency "to prepare a plan to improve access to
federally
conducted programs and activities by eligible LEP persons
Once finalized, such plans are to be filed with the Department of
Justice as the central repository of agencies' plans." In compliance
with Section 2 of Executive Order 13166, this Implementation Plan
details the Department of Housing and Urban Development's initiatives
and plans over the next twelve months to improve access to its federally
conducted programs and activities by eligible persons with limited
English proficiency (LEP).
II.
Background
The general mission of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
is to promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity,
and a suitable living environment for every American free from discrimination.
HUD has six strategic goals to help in achieving its mission:
- Increase Homeownership Opportunities for low-and moderate-income
persons, persons with disabilities, the elderly, ethnic and racial
minorities, and families with limited English proficiency.
-
Promote Decent Affordable Housing by expanding access to affordable
rental housing, improving the physical quality and management
accountability of public and assisted housing, and helping HUD-assisted
renters make progress toward self-sufficiency.
- Strengthen
Communities through improving economic conditions in distressed
communities, making communities more livable, ending chronic homelessness,
and mitigating housing conditions that threaten health.
- Ensure
Equal Opportunity in Housing by resolving discrimination complaints
on a timely basis, promoting public awareness of Fair Housing
laws, and improving housing accessibility for persons with disabilities.
- Promote
Participation of Faith-Based and Community Organizations by providing
full and equal access to grassroots faith-based and other community-based
organizations.
- Embrace
High Standards of Ethics, Management and Accountability by rebuilding
HUD's human capital and further diversify its work force, improving
accountability, service delivery, and customer service of HUD
and its partners, and ensuring program compliance.
HUD
has many programs that assist in meeting the eight strategic goals.
Among these programs are: (1) Office of Fair housing and Equal Opportunity;
(2) Office of Community Planning and Development; (3) Office of
Housing; and (4) Office of Public and Indian Housing. These four
programs administer much of the approximately $30 billion that is
provided directly to State and local governments, Public Housing
Agencies (PHAs), profit and non-profit organizations to implement
critical housing and community development programs and activities.
HUD wants to ensure that the programs and activities made possible
through these resources are made available to the LEP population.
Therefore, this Implementation Plan focuses on providing equal opportunity
to persons with LEP.
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