The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched a telephone service that will offer live, one-on-one interpretation services in more than 175 languages.

The HUD Language Line -- available nationwide -- will help HUD staff better communicate with "limited English proficient" people about HUD fair-housing programs, home ownership, lead abatement, housing assistance, and other HUD programs and services.

“Access to government should not be determined by how well a person speaks English,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “The HUD Language Line is another example of HUD’s efforts to ensure that persons with limited English proficiency have equal access to HUD programs and services.”

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