The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Wednesday, a major restructuring of its multifamily housing programs is underway, which will result in the closure of 16 smaller field offices, including one each in Orlando and Tampa. The restructuring and consolidation at HUD comes at a time when the housing market struggles to recover as overall economic activity cools.
“The current organizational model for HUD is not sustainable from a financial and a service delivery point of view,” HUD’s Deputy Secretary, Maurice Jones said in a statement.
Closing of the HUD office in Orlando will affect eight employees who provide support to seniors requiring housing assistance, process Section 8 rental vouchers and provide foreclosure guidance generally, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Jacksonville), who also represents certain areas in Orlando, is reportedly said to be upset by the HUD closures and expressed her disappointment with the President Barack Obama administration, the Sentinel also reported.
According to HUD, Florida would still retain two field offices, one in Jacksonville and the other in Miami from which Tampa and Orlando would be serviced.
