Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO presented information on: (1) the role, organization, and resources of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); (2) HUD's major programs, their condition, and related issues; (3) critical issues facing HUD; and (4) tools to help the Congress and the Administration address these and other issues.

GAO noted that: (1) created in 1965, HUD carries out the federal government's missions, policies, and programs for housing and community development; (2) through its multiple social and financial roles, HUD directly or indirectly affects most Americans; (3) HUD's functions fall into four categories: (a) housing assistance; (b) housing finance; (c) community development; and (d) regulation; and (4) the Department faces a number of critical issues, including the: (1) demands that renewing Section 8 contracts places on its budget; and (2) designation of its programs as being at high risk of waste, fraud, and mismanagement.