In recent months there have been some major changes and proposed changes at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHR shares the below information with you to make sure you are informed about these recent changes.
HUD recently terminated the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule (AFFH) calling the requirements too burdensome. The intention if AFFH was to promote equal housing opportunities and level the playing field so that all neighborhoods provide the quality services and amenities that are important for people to live successful lives. Prior to the repeal, the Wall Street Journal reported that several Lenders Oppose(d) Federal Effort to Weaken Housing-Discrimination Rule. HUD states that the removal of the AFFH rule returns power to localities.
HUD announced on July 1 that it will be releasing its proposed anti-transgender changes to the Equal Access Rule. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, this proposed rule change would weaken protections for transgender individuals experiencing homelessness and seeking emergency shelter by allowing shelter providers not to provide admission or access to services that are consistent with an individual’s gender identity. To learn more or to submit a comment to HUD, go to Housing Saves Lives.
HUD published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on May 2019 that would lead to thousands of “mixed-status” immigrant families that have members who are undocumented or otherwise ineligible for public and other subsidized housing to split up or be evicted, putting them at high risk of homelessness. They received over 30,000 comments in opposition. This week the USDA Mixed Status Rule took a step forward. The USDA’s anti-immigrant proposal will likely prohibit mixed-immigration status families from receiving housing assistance from some Rural Housing Services programs covered by Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. This could lead to families splitting up, forgoing assistance, or being evicted from their homes. Currently, under Section 214, undocumented immigrants cannot receive federal housing assistance, but families of mixed-immigration status can live in subsidized housing if at least one member of the household is eligible to receive assistance. Learn more at the Keep Families Together campaign.
