MILWAUKEE – On Thursday, May 16, 2024, Adrianne Todman, the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, joined Vice President Kamala Harris’ nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour in Milwaukee, WI, to announce HUD’s new $40 million in funding to expand housing counseling for underserved communities and help bridge the racial homeownership gap.

At the event, Vice President Harris discussed investing in communities, building wealth, and ensuring every American has the ability to thrive. During a moderated conversation with comedian, radio host, and author DL Hughley, the Vice President highlighted how the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic steps to advance economic opportunity by improving access to housing. They were also joined 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 the offices of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Representative Gwen Moore.

The funding announced today will go to more than 165 housing counseling agencies to help expand housing counseling services across the country. These funds can be used to help homebuyers improve their credit, develop a budget, find down payment assistance programs, understand loan terms and types of mortgages, and identify housing discrimination. Counselors can also help renters search for housing and navigate the application process.

HUD estimates that over $300,000 of this new funding will go to help consumers in Wisconsin. The Biden-Harris Administration and HUD have already helped nearly 35,000 Americans through this program in Wisconsin – 19,000 of whom live in Milwaukee.

These counseling services are currently serving nearly 12,000 families in Wisconsin, 40 percent of whom are Black families. At the event, three local housing counseling agencies attended: Acts Housing, Housing Resources Inc, and United Community Center.

HUD supports a strong 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.