HUD Wins Center for Digital Government Project Experience Award

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the winner of a 2017 Center for Digital Government Project Experience Award for its technical assistance website, the HUD Exchange. The Center for Digital Government awards celebrate digital work from government organizations that have radically improved how constituents experience government and push the boundaries of how services are delivered. The HUD Exchange is the Federal Government Experience winner.

The HUD Exchange website is a centralized hub where grantees can access resources to implement programs for the benefit of their communities. HUD's grantees include state and local governments, public housing authorities, tribes, private organizations, and their partners. Other audiences include HUD staff, HUD Technical Assistance (TA) providers, who provide consulting services to HUD and its grantees, and people looking for housing and homelessness assistance. Approximately 140,000 users visit the website each month.

The website consists of:

• Topical Mini-sites and Resource Library – Users can browse mini-sites focused on a specific topic or search through a database of guidance, tools, and FAQs on 30-plus HUD programs, requirements, and reporting systems.
• Trainings – Users can access training materials including videos, self-paced training, and handouts.
• Mailing List and News – Users receive up-to-date information on HUD programs.
• Ask a Question Help Desk System – Users can submit policy and technical questions about HUD programs and systems. HUD and TA providers manage and answer questions received.
• Data Reports – Users can track grantee performance and find data to inform research reports
• Grantee Pages – Users can view grantee contacts and awards
• Technical Assistance Portal - Grantees can submit requests to HUD for in-depth technical assistance. HUD staff reviews requests and assigns them to TA providers as appropriate. TA providers log the progress of technical assistance, which can be reviewed by HUD staff.

The HUD Exchange launched in 2011, with support from ICF, a global consulting and technology services provider. Under HUD’s direction, ICF’s social and community programs and digital experts manage the design, development, and operations of the HUD Exchange.

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on IT policies and best state and local government practices. Sponsors of the Center for Digital Government awards include Accela, Adobe, Civicplus, DellEMC, Deloitte, ForeScout Technologies, Laserfiche, Microsoft, NepApp/Cisco, NIC, Nutanix, Pure Storage, SHI, Spectrum Enterprise, and Verizon.