With the click of a mouse (https://www.huduser.gov), housing researchers and policymakers anywhere in the world can now access HUD USER's vast array of housing and community development information resources more easily. HUD USER is the information service and clearinghouse for HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). As one of the Nation's premier online sources for Federal Government reports and data on various housing-related topics, the HUD USER website offers information products and services for more effective policy decisions and research. Exclusive Bibliographic Database. The only online bibliographic database dedicated to housing and community development issues, HUD USER contains more than 8,000 abstracts (with complete citations) of reports, articles, books, and data sources regarding housing policy, building technology, economic development, urban planning, and a variety of other topics. Use standard topics or keywords to search for current information on housing needs, market conditions, or existing programs and to conduct research on priority housing and community development issues. Data Sets. The website offers access to original electronic data sets generated by PD&R -- including the American Housing Survey and HUD median family income limits -- as well as to microdata on such topics as housing discrimination, the HUD-insured multifamily housing stock, and the public housing population. Many of these data sets are download- able. For example, many researchers download the latest American Housing Survey, which has recently been updated. Recently Published Research. Website users can also download electronic copies of current research, sponsored primarily by HUD. These reports, case studies, and guidebooks span the fields of housing and urban development. The website also offers nearly 600 housing-related titles that can be browsed by subject matter and ordered through HUD USER's online store. Users can search for a publication by title, author, subject, word, or phrase. To place an order, use either a credit card and the secure CyberCash system or a deposit account for automatic payment. Other Resources To Aid Research. The website's guide to PD&R's current research initiatives shows the timely information that will be available in coming months. By signing up on the website, visitors can join one of the electronic mailing lists (listservs) to receive early notice of new research documents. A calendar covers events of interest to housing and development professionals. Three helpful periodicals are available online to practitioners and researchers: Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research, an essential addition to policy and research libraries; U.S. Housing Market Conditions, a quarterly report that provides the latest available nationwide housing statistics; and, of course, Recent Research Results. Website users can also subscribe to two additional print periodicals: FieldWorks, which shares practical information on noteworthy programs and useful resources from people on the front lines of the struggle to build stronger communities, and Urban Research Monitor, a useful reference tool that allows readers to keep up with the diverse and growing body of literature on housing and community development. HUD USER's redesigned website is rapidly becoming a favorite among researchers. Faster and easier than ever, it allows visitors to browse and read significant publications, examine data sets, order items they need, and access a variety of resources to expedite research.
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