HomeMy WebLinkAboutFair Housing Assessments overviewFair Housing Assessments
The Fair Housing Act requires HUD to administer its programs, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing. HUD has recently
revised how local communities who receive those grants must address this requirement. The new regulations, effective this year, require each government entity that receives HUD funds,
including CDBG funds, to complete a Fair Housing Assessment that identifies fair housing issues, factors contributing to those issues and meaningful action to address those factors.
These assessments will have varying due dates tied to the community’s Consolidated Plans.
Fair Housing Issues defined by HUD:
Ongoing local or regional segregation or lack of integration
Racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty
Significant disparities in access to opportunity, such as schools, jobs, transportation
Disproportionate housing needs such as racially or ethnically concentrated substandard housing.
HUD will provide data to assist communities in identifying each of these issues. Communities then must identify factors that contribute to each of these issues and select one or more
factors to address with meaningful actions. Further information on the process can be found at:
https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/AFFH-Fact-Sheet-The-Fair-Housing-Planning-Process-Under-the-AFFH-Rule.pdf
Public Participation:
HUD requires public participation in the Fair Housing Assessment process and that communities invite all interested parties to participate. HUD also requires the assessment to summarize
the input from the public including input rejected by the community and why it was rejected.
Action by local REALTOR Associations:
Although there are no requirements for local REALTOR Associations to participate in the process, it is likely that issues impacting the business of members will be addressed in the assessments.
For example, in discussing continuing segregation, some might want to examine the role of real estate marketing or conduct. By engaging in the assessment process, local REALTOR Associations
can leverage their relationships with local governments to bring a better understanding of the real estate market, focus on factors governing housing choice and availability such as
quality schools, crime, access to jobs, etc.
NAR will provide additional information and on-line or webinar training of the Fair Housing Assessment process and participation by the Association .