HUD ENCOURAGES ALABAMA LANDLORDS TO LIST VACANCIES ON NATIONAL HOUSING LOCATOR SYSTEM TO HELP DISPLACED FAMILIES

ATLANTA - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is appealing to landlords in Alabama to list their vacant properties on its National Housing Locator System (NHLS). Working with federal and private housing databases, HUD uses this web-based system to offer thousands of families displaced from recent tornadoes longer term housing options.

Currently, more than 2,700 apartments and single-family homes are available through the NHLS in Alabama. Several landlords hoping to help tornado victims have asked HUD how to get their properties listed in the NHLS.

Landlords and property owners can list available units by registering onto HUD's National Housing Locator System and creating a new account. Landlords can also call the NHL at (703) 667-9420 x114 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to register their housing.

"The National Housing Locator is a critical resource for families who need longer term housing," said HUD's Regional Administrator, Ed Jennings. "We need property owners and landlords with available units to list their vacant housing
so that FEMA and our State and local recovery workers can refer displaced families to a suitable place to live as they put their lives back together."

All landlords who list their vacant properties on the National Housing Locator must comply with the Fair Housing Act which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. It is also unlawful to refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodation may be necessary to afford a person with disabilities equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

The NHLS merges federal housing resources with several commercial housing locators to offer a single outlet for locating rental housing around the country. The following private companies are providing housing vacancies to supplement other public databases: Inventory Management System (IMS), Apartments.Com, ApartmentTime.Com, SocialServe.com, RentLinx, Texas housing Authority, HUD Multi-family, Gosection8.com, USDA, Tenant Plus, hotpads.com, rentalads.com, Forrent.com.

Authorized users can locate available housing by city; area code; price range; acceptance of housing vouchers; acceptance of pets; accessibility; assisted and elderly accommodations; and number of bedrooms and bathrooms. In most cases, the database will also include an address and map of the housing complex, contact information for the landlord, and monthly rent amount. All displaced families are eligible to use information provided through the NHLS, regardless of income.

HUD does not endorse, sponsor or recommend any of the listings, information, products, services, or a company, including any trademark or trade name that may be contained on the list including those appearing on any external hyperlink, and HUD provides no assurance or guarantee with respect to any of them. All links are provided solely for the purpose of disseminating information on available housing.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.