Alphonso Jackson sworn in as HUD secretary: Pledges to focus on homeownership, affordable housing and management reformMortgagePress.comHUD,Alphonso Jackson
On April 1, Alphonso Jackson became the nation's highest-ranking
housing official, a day after the United States Senate confirmed
his nomination to be the 13th secretary of the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Jackson, who was sworn in at a
private ceremony at the department, promised to continue building
on the nation's record homeownership rate, increasing access to
affordable housing for low-income families and improving sound
management practices within HUD.
"Boosting the number of homeowners, and minority homeowners in
particular, is one of the president's domestic priorities, and a
personal priority of mine," said Jackson. "As secretary, I will
work tirelessly to promote this administration's compassionate
agenda, believing that we best serve our neighbors in need by
empowering them to pursue their dreams."
Mortgage industry trade groups hailed Jackson's
confirmation.
"We applaud the Senate confirmation of Alphonso Jackson to serve
as Secretary of HUD," said Robert M. Couch, CMB, chairman of the
Mortgage Bankers Association. "MBA and its 2,700 member companies
look forward to continue working closely with Secretary Jackson on
a number of housing and real estate finance issues and
initiatives."
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers also voiced support
for Jackson's confirmation.
"Secretary Jackson brings extensive knowledge and experience to
his new post and the mortgage broker community looks forward to
working with him now and in the future," said NAMB President A.W.
Pickel III, CMC.
For nearly three years, Jackson served as HUD's Deputy
Secretary, managing the day-to-day operations of a department with
9,300 employees and an annual budget of $32 billion. Jackson has
extensive housing, finance and management experience, having
directed public housing authorities in St. Louis, Washington, D.C.
and Dallas. Jackson also served as chairman of two redevelopment
agencies in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis. Under his leadership,
the Dallas Housing Authority received the highest ranking HUD has
awarded to any big city public housing agency, consistently scoring
94 on a 100-point management scale to measure the performance of
local housing authorities.
For a more information, visit www.hud.gov.
