DETROIT, MI - U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management Joseph DeFelice traveled to Detroit to engage with residents and contractors about the HUD Section 3 program - one of HUD Secretary Scott Turner and President Trump's core supports for economic self-sufficiency.

"President Trump has made it clear that he wants to see American's succeed - he wants to see you all here today, succeed," said HUD Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management Joseph DeFelice. "Over the last few days here in the Detroit area, I have seen the spirit of the Motor City, still revving, still pushing, and still beating as one of the premier economic engines of this nation. And for too long, HUD has pushed programs and policy that are convoluted, unnecessarily complex, and made to serve D.C. bureaucrats rather than you, the American taxpayer. That stops now. We are here to listen, learn, and make meaningful changes that serve you - not us."

Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 that requires recipients of certain federal housing and community development funds to provide job training, employment, and contracting opportunities to low-income residents and businesses in their communities. It prioritizes connecting these opportunities to low and very-low-income individuals, especially those in public housing, aiming to create economic self-sufficiency.

Over the years, barriers to HUD Section 3 implementation have included inconsistent enforcement, lack of data/reporting, limited grantee capacity, complex rules, and local obstacles that lead to low visibility of the program within communities.

Section 3 is a key pillar in Secretary Turner's commitment to leveraging program efficiency and reducing red tape within HUD programs.

Visit Highlights:

Residents and contractors living and working in the Detroit, Michigan area provided HUD officials with robust commentary and feedback on how to make it easier for people to access Section 3 qualified jobs and opportunities.

Area residents received training on how the HUD Section 3 program works and had opportunities to break into small discussion groups to provide feedback on program mechanics and necessary changes.

A panel of state and local workforce and economic growth officials helped close out the visit providing the audience with information on how they partner with and support HUD programs and answered audience questions.

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