The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development is one of the departments tasked with serving Americans when it comes to ensuring that they have accessible, affordable and non-discriminative housing. The department looks out for the public, ensuring that all people irrespective of their social, economic status. This paper will look at a brief background description of the organization, the most used media of communication, the frequency of sending out communication messages, the kind of the most messages sent to the public and the key barriers to effective communication.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development is one of the critical departments of the United States federal government. It was set up in 1965 to create and implement policies related to housing and the metropolis. It was set up as a great society by President Lyndon Johnson. The department’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. The department is working towards ensuring that the housing market is sturdy to strengthen the economy and shield consumers. The department is working to ensure the need for quality, affordable rental houses as well as the use of the need or houses as a platform for ensuring improved quality of life for all Americans. It is also a vision of the department to eliminate discrimination through building inclusive and sustainable communities for all people (Grants.Gov, n.d). The department runs many programs that are being implemented to ensure housing is accessible and affordable for those people seeking a home. The department has many offices under it that are run to ensure that the department achieves its mission and vision.
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There are various channels that the Department of Housing and Urban Development uses for communication. They include both print media and online platforms. The department has a website where its information, mission, and objectives, as well as recent news, are posted. It also involves the public through social media platforms. The department of housing and urban development has a YouTube channel where they keep the public updated on their activities. They also engage the public and accept suggestions from the public; through public involvement, the department can understand the needs of the public as regards their need for inclusive and affordable housing. Their channels of communication ensure that they keep people updated on their activities.
The department of housing and urban development just like any other organization uses various methods of communication depending on the type of message being disseminated. There are various levels of communication, internal and external communication. For internal communication memos and emails are used to relay messages between various employees. When it comes to communication to the public various communication channels, have to be utilized. Use of multiple communication channels is used to ensure that all people have access to information in a timely manner.
As technology is advancing organizations are taking up advanced methods of communication to reach as many people as possible. The Department Of Housing and Urban Development uses print media and social media platforms to relay information. Social media platform is considered favorable for the younger generations as they have increased utilization of the internet. Capitalizing on this form of communication ensures that the department also can get in touch with young people. In addition, most social media platforms provide a section for feedback (Mahmud, 2016). Feedback is crucial for any organization, and this enables them to know about the needs of people and improve service delivery. The department of housing and urban delivery also has a YouTube channel that they use to communicate to the public. The print media is often used, but the commonly used form of communication would be an online type of communication considering most people are technology savvy.
Communication is often sent to the people to ensure they are well informed of the activities of the housing and urban development department. Currently, housing and urban development are fast changing aspects of human living. The website and YouTube channels are updated often with new information being shared on social media platforms (Fontinelle, 2014). The kind of messages being sent out depicts how often the often the department of housing will endorse it keep informing the public about it. For instance, a message on an upcoming event will cease to be shared after the event has happened, but information on financing options for housing is long term information that will always be relevant however need minimal updating as information changed in real estate.
The housing sector is fast changing as real estate grows the public needs to be informed of available options on housing. Available programs are advertised to the public with the strategic plans that the government hopes to achieve in a particular financial year. Through communicating such information, the department expands opportunity for all people living in America. The department is also able to strengthen the real estate market and ensure that there are quality products for the people hence improved quality of life for the people. The information communicated also includes market opportunities for investors both local and international. Attracting investors is a key activity of the department as this will ensure housing and urban development has finances required to ensure affordable and accessible housing.
Another type of information communicated to people includes modes of payment available for potential homeowners. Mortgage insurance programs are advertised to the people, ensuring that people know how they can finance their dreams of being homeowners. The requirements of qualifying for home loans are also communicated to people to ensure their credit rating is high and does not limit them when it comes to securing loans. The terms of ownership are another crucial piece of information that the department of housing and urban development would share with the public. Information on foreclosure and conditions to be met to avoid foreclosure are important to the public and as such the department educates people about it.
Potential upcoming projects on housing are also communicated to people. This kind of information helps people to plan for the future purchase of homes. Information about the public is crucial in ensuring that the market is stable more, so it ensures that people are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous sellers.
There are some obstacles to effective communication, and they comprise the use of jargon which making communication messages to the people (Barriers to Effective Communication, n.d). The sector related to housing and insurance of homes can be complicated for a lay person. As such it is important that the department of housing and urban development structure their messages to be easy and understandable to all people. Use of technical words can deter people and make them lose interest in a topic or issue that is important and crucial to their lives. Differences in perception and viewpoint could hinder a message being received by the public. At this point, it is important that the department understands the level of knowledge, attitude, and perception of the people as regards housing. Such information is crucial as it will help the department structure their messages accordingly and reach to all people.
Information in a fast-paced world is ever-changing, and the updates have to be regularly done because if not then the people may not get the information (National Academy of Sciences (US) et al., 2001). In light of this, the department needs to get people to work on social media communication specifically. Different age groups will have different channels of communication, and as such, it is important that the department of housing chooses the most appropriate channel of communication to ensure that their messages are being received. The department also needs to identify their specific consumer for housing purchases as this will ensure that their marketing messages have an impact on the population and ensure inclusivity.
In conclusion, The United States Department of housing and urban development is a department of the United States federal government with the mission of creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. The department also works towards ensuring that the housing market is strong to boost the economy and safeguard consumers from exploitation by sellers. Communication from the department is made through various channels such as mass media and print media. The choice of the channel of communication depends on the information being passed and the target population. The types of information being communicated include; information about the department, upcoming activities in the department, available investment options and financing options in acquiring homes. There are challenges the department faces which include the use of technical terms that the public does not understand. Low levels of knowledge, negative attitude and perception can negatively affect how the public receives information from the department of housing and urban development. It is also important that the department is swift in relaying information to the public because up to date information is crucial for a sector that involves buying houses.
References
Barriers to Effective Communication. (n.d.). Skills You Need. Retrieved from https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/barriers-communication.html
Fontinelle, A. (2014, November 13). What The Department of Housing and Urban Development Does. Investopedia. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/111314/what-department-housing-and-urban-development-does.asp
Grants.gov. (n.d). U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development (HUD). Retrieved from https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-making-agencies/department-of-housing-and-urban-development.html
Mahmud, A. (2016). How should government communicate with citizens? Gov Loop. Retrieved from https://www.govloop.com/community/blog/government-communicate-citizens/
National Academy of Sciences (US), National Academy of Engineering (US), and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. (2001). Implementing the Government Performance and Results Act for Research: A Status Report . Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).
