Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary | https://www.hud.gov/leadership#sec
On May 16, 2024, Adrianne Todman, the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), teamed up with Vice President Kamala Harris during her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour in Milwaukee, WI. The duo announced HUD's new $40 million funding initiative to broaden housing counseling for underserved communities and mitigate the racial homeownership gap.
Vice President Harris spoke about investing in communities, wealth creation, and ensuring every American has the ability to thrive at the event. She engaged in a moderated conversation with comedian, radio host, and author DL Hughley. During this discussion, she emphasized how the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic strides to enhance economic opportunity by improving access to housing.
The event was also attended by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Representative Gwen Moore.
The newly announced funding will be allocated to over 165 housing counseling agencies across the country to extend their services. These funds can assist homebuyers in improving their credit scores, developing budgets, finding down payment assistance programs, understanding loan terms and types of mortgages as well as identifying housing discrimination. Counselors can also aid renters in their search for housing and guide them through the application process.
HUD estimates that more than $300,000 of this new funding will benefit consumers in Wisconsin. The Biden-Harris Administration and HUD have already assisted nearly 35,000 Americans through this program in Wisconsin – including 19,000 residents of Milwaukee.
Currently serving nearly 12,000 families in Wisconsin – with Black families making up 40 percent – these counseling services were represented at the event by three local agencies: Acts Housing, Housing Resources Inc., and United Community Center.
HUD maintains a robust national network of 1,480 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and over 4,300 HUD-certified housing counselors. In 2023 alone, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies served nearly one million individuals and families.
