HUD produces video messages for the deaf and hard of hearing

WASHINGTON – March 11, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it produced videos for YouTube and Facebook designed to educate deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers about their fair housing rights, housing counseling services, and loan programs offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

In one video, a HUD employee uses sign language to tell his story of refinancing his home through FHA, the largest government insurer on mortgages. In another video, he explains that it’s illegal to discriminate in housing based on race, religion, sex, national origin, disability or family status. All videos encourage viewers to contact HUD by visiting its website, www.hud.gov for help or more information.

Reaching out to consumers on YouTube and Facebook gives HUD another avenue for delivering content to users, particularly those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Videos posted on these sites get a different level of exposure than just being posted on HUD’s Web site. Because people usually circulate videos through their own distribution lists, users are more likely to be informed about a video from a friend than by searching for it on their own. However, videos are also searchable by using keywords related to the topic.

© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Questions, comments or suggestions on this article? Have a news tip? Send a letter to the editor to: Newseditor@floridarealtors.org.