Fair housing advocates today praised President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to serve as the next secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Their statements highlighted Rep. Fudge’s deep knowledge of the issues facing communities across the country and praised her record as a leading voice for working families.

Barbara Goldberg Goldman, Founder and Co-Chair of the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County (AHCMC): 

“Congresswoman Marcia Fudge will provide new and much-needed perspectives and approaches for identifying solutions to the decades-long affordable housing crisis that is exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.

“As an organization that believes strongly that decent, safe and affordable housing is a right and not a privilege in America, AHCMC also believes, based upon her background and accomplishments, Rep Fudge will address head-on the past harms and current hardships associated with housing affordability. She will bring to the table a diverse coalition of stakeholders and others familiar with and directly impacted by HUD policies, rules and regulations. Her experiences as an attorney, a former budget and finance director, former auditor and arbitrator, a former Mayor, and a Member of Congress make her imminently qualified to run a federal agency charged with ‘creating strong sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all who live in America.’ We look forward to working with her and her staff.”

Bill Faith, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio:

“Congresswoman Marcia Fudge is a great choice to lead HUD as millions of Americans face the prospects of getting evicted during a pandemic when we’re all advised to stay home. Rep. Fudge understands the plight of people who are struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table. With her solid track record on civil rights, we trust that HUD will finally make measurable progress on fair housing and equal access issues that have divided America’s communities for so long.”

Clarence E. Anthony, Executive Director and CEO of the National League of Cities (NLC): 

“We applaud President-elect Biden’s decision to nominate Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to lead one of the most significant and consequential federal partners for cities across the United States. As a former mayor, Congresswoman Fudge intimately understands the challenges facing cities, towns and villages of all sizes in building equitable housing programs that address each community’s unique needs.

“We are eager to work with Congresswoman Fudge to advance new policies that stabilize and stem the loss of public and affordable housing and enable innovative and collaborative programs to advance housing for all. NLC and local leaders across the country stand ready to support the consideration of Congresswoman Fudge’s nomination.”

Nan Roman, President & CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness:

“Ending homelessness demands strong leadership at the federal level. There is no substitute. We are confident that as Secretary, Marcia Fudge will have an immediate positive impact on HUD’s ability to reduce homelessness; create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities; and provide quality affordable homes for all.” In her new role, Fudge will immediately face an urgency that few HUD Secretaries have dealt with. The combined crises of COVID-19, rising levels of unsheltered homelessness, a potential economic recession, and a dire nationwide shortage of affordable housing, collectively represent both an unprecedented challenge and opportunity at HUD. “HUD’s mission has always been vital to the health of the nation, but it is unquestionably so at this moment in time,” said Roman. “Communities across the country depend on the life-saving programs and resources for which HUD is responsible. This work must be guided by leadership that is committed to strategies that are non-partisan, equity-based, and evidence-based. The Alliance extends its encouragement to Rep. Fudge and looks forward to working together with her team.

David M. Dworkin, President and CEO, National Housing Conference:

“Congresswoman Fudge would bring a much-needed fresh approach to national housing policy. She has been a strong supporter of the HOME program and played a leading role in getting Congress to approve desperately needed funds to stabilize the hardest hit neighborhoods during the Great Recession.

“Her background as mayor of an inner ring suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and as a leader on education policy, would be important as HUD plays an important role in reversing the catastrophic loss of Black homeowners over the past 10 years. Congresswoman Fudge understands the need to make housing policy work for all communities, urban, suburban and rural.

“We look forward to supporting her confirmation by the United States Senate and working with her in the days and years to come.”

National Multifamily Housing Council and National Apartment Association: 

“We congratulate Congresswoman Fudge for her historic nomination to lead HUD and look forward to working with her and the broader Biden administration to support responsible policies that improve housing affordability and deliver meaningful relief to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“America is facing a critical housing affordability crisis and grappling with the pandemic and related economic distress. NMHC and NAA are committed to advancing solutions that keep apartment communities whole, protect and support residents and keep the nation’s rental housing industry stable throughout these trying times and into the future.

“NMHC and NAA have a long and valued relationship with Congresswoman Fudge, who has worked tirelessly to leverage public policy to improve opportunities for working families as a longtime member of Congress and a former chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus. Given the immense challenges we face, we look forward to her swift confirmation and to continuing our work with her on policies that support the tens of millions of Americans who call an apartment home, that encourage the creation and rehabilitation of housing at all price points and that lead to broader housing opportunities for all Americans.”