The HUD chief is on a “listening tour” of communities and local HUD offices
A little over a month into his job, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson is aiming to steer his office beyond its role as a “maintenance organization,” according to a HousingWire report.
“At HUD, things have changed… [W]e’re now becoming an organization that propels people to success,” Carson said in Dallas during a side stop on his so-called “listening tour” of communities and HUD offices across the country. “We’re not just looking at putting a roof over someone’s head. We’re looking at developing our human capital, because every single individual is capital, and they become part of the engine or part of the load.”
The Senate confirmed Carson as President Donald Trump’s HUD Secretary on March 2. He had no housing experience prior to his appointment.
During a confirmation hearing, Carson said he work with local HUD officials and communities to make sure that fair housing is carried out through the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which was enacted as part of civil rights legislation.
“I think the Fair House Amendment in 1968 was one of the best pieces of legislation that we’ve had. It was modified in 1988. LBJ said nobody could possibly question this; I agree with him,” he said.
The Trump administration budget proposal for 2018 allocates $40.7 billion for HUD from $46.9 billion in 2017. It seeks a greater role for state and local governments, and the private sector to address community and economic development needs.
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