Office of Public and Indian Housing
The Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) is an agency of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its mission is to ensure safe, decent, and affordable housing, create opportunities for residents' self-sufficiency and economic independence, and assure the fiscal integrity of all program participants.
Background
PIH is responsible for administering and managing a range of programs authorized and funded by Congress under the basic provisions of the U.S. Housing, Act of 1937. This act was created to provide affordable housing to well over a million households nationwide. This act actually created the Public and Indian Housing program as well.
The United States Congress dictated for funds to be dedicated not only for the development of additional public and Indian housing units, but also for the modernization of the housing stock, the improvement of the management of the programs by the public and Indian housing authorities which own the housing, and for programs to address crime and security and provide supportive services and tenant opportunities. The programs are administered by the:
- Office of Community Relations and Involvement[1]
- Office of Public and Assisted Housing Operations[2] (including the housing choice voucher tenant based rental assistance program)
- Office of Public Housing Investments
- Office of Policy, Program and Legislative Initiatives
What is public housing?
Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses to high-rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 1.2 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,400 HAs.
See also
- Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996
- Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations
- Tohono O'Odham Ki:Ki Association, a tribal housing program