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On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Obama administration’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule, with the purpose of ending segregation in housing.
Under the guidelines of the rule, communities receiving HUD funding will be equipped with tools and data to assist them in fulfilling established fair housing responsibilities. HUD will also guide and assist these areas in local decision-making on fair housing issues and goals to help cultivate affordable housing and stimulate community development.
In the press release announcing the rule, HUD Secretary Julián Castro articulated its greatest objective, “Unfortunately, too many Americans find their dreams limited by where they come from, and a ZIP code should never determine a child’s future. This important step will give local leaders the tools they need to provide all Americans with access to safe, affordable housing in communities that are rich with opportunity.”
As a collective effort to achieve fair housing, the rule took into account and incorporated significant feedback from the public during the development process, meaning that the communities that will be directly affected by the rule had an active role in its creation.
The rule also delineates fair housing obligations and introduces an updated Assessment of Fair Housing, which will assist communities in identifying hidden fair housing challenges, allowing them to establish objectives to neutralize these barriers.
The rule will take effect 30 days after publication, but communities will be given time before it is officially implemented. HUD will provide assistance to ensure that participants understand the process and to identify best practices for its varied group of communities.