The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released an extensive proposed rule on the Fair Housing Act’s (FHA’s) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate. The FHA – which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, and familial status – also requires recipients of HUD funding to affirmatively further fair housing. These recipients must take meaningful actions to combat discrimination, overcome segregation, and reduce barriers that restrict access to opportunity for protected classes. The 2023 proposed AFFH Rule is an important step towards advancing fair housing and sets out the obligations of HUD grantees, including Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), states, and local jurisdictions, to identify and remedy fair housing problems in their communities.
Aging and disability advocates have an important role to play in local fair housing planning. A new Justice in Aging fact sheet, Highlights of HUD’s Proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule for Aging and Disability Advocates, provides a summary of the proposed AFFH Rule and an overview of some of its key features. Advocates who are interested in providing input on the proposed rule can submit comments by April 24, 2023.