HUD NEWS
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Shaun Donovan,
Secretary
Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20410
HUD No. 09-089
Shantae Goodloe
(202) 708-0685
For Release
Wednesday
June 17, 2009
HUD EXPANDS MULTI-LINGUAL WEBSITE TO HELP FAMILES WHO ARE LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENT TO GAIN ACCESS TO HUD PROGRAMS
New website offers translation of HUD Vital Documents for Free
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
today unveiled an enhanced website to promote equal access to housing
programs by providing important HUD documents in 12 different languages.
HUD’s expanded Limited English Proficiency (LEP) website features
factsheets, housing brochures and other forms in Amharic
< .cfm?/offices/fheo/Amharic.pdf> ,
Arabic
< t.cfm?/offices/fheo/Arabic.pdf> ,
Armenian
< ept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Armenian.doc>
, Cambodian
< pt.cfm?/offices/fheo/Cambodian.pdf>
, Chinese
< .cfm?/offices/fheo/Chinese.doc> ,
Farsi
< .cfm?/offices/fheo/Farsi.doc> ,
French
< t.cfm?/offices/fheo/French.doc> ,
Korean
< t.cfm?/offices/fheo/Korean.doc> ,
Portuguese
< rcept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Portuguese.doc> , Spanish
< ntent=3Dpr09-089.cfm&lang=3Des> ,
Tagalog
< pt.cfm?/offices/fheo/Tagalog.doc> ,
and Vietnamese
< ept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Vietnamese.pdf> , in addition to English.
"When buying or renting a home, obtaining important housing information
should not depend on how well people speak English," said John
Trasviña, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity. "This website greatly expands HUD’s ability to offer all
families access to our programs and services, regardless of the language
they speak."
The HUD site offers brochures on fair housing, model lease agreements,
information about HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), and
a Resident Rights and Responsibilities brochure in various languages.
These documents < p.cfm>
are free to the public.
The LEP website is in response to Executive Order 13166, which requires
all federal, local and state agencies that receive federal funding to
ensure that people with limited language skills have meaningful access
to government programs and services.
"The importance of homeownership and fair housing means HUD must be a
leader in this area. HUD will continue our efforts to serve all persons
by translating additional vital documents and posting them on the
website," said Trasviña.
FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate
approximately 10,500 housing discrimination complaints annually. People
who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should
contact HUD at 1 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY).
Additional information <; is available.
To view a copy of the press release in one of the 12 languages, click
the links below:
Amharic
< ntercept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Amharic.pdf>
Arabic
< fices/fheo/Arabic.pdf>
Armenian
<http://www. hud.gov/utilities/intercept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Arme nian.doc>
Cambodian
< ities/intercept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Cambodian.pdf> ;
Chinese
< ept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Chinese.doc>
Farsi
<ht tp:// fheo/Farsi.doc>
French
< tilities/intercept.cfm?/offices/fheo/French.doc> ;
Korean
< t.cfm?/offices/fheo/Korean.doc>
Portuguese
< s/fheo/Portuguese.doc>
Spanish
<http://www.h ud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=3Dpr09-089.cfm& ;lang=3Des>
Tagalog
< ities/intercept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Tagalog.doc>
Vietnamese
< ept.cfm?/offices/fheo/Vietnamese.pdf>
###
HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to sustaining
homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income
Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with
disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes
economic and community development and enforces the nation’s fair
housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available
on the Internet at <; and espanol.hud.gov
<; .