April 24, 2023
RE: Docket No. FR-6250-P-01; Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing To Whom It May Concern:
The 48 undersigned fair housing, civil rights, housing advocacy, faith, consumer, women’s, real estate, LGBTQI+, senior and allied organizations submit these comments on HUD’s proposed new affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH) regulation (Docket No. FR-6250-P-01). We commend HUD for advancing this important regulation, which is a critical tool for creating more equitable and inclusive communities in which all residents – regardless of who they are or where they live – have access to the resources, amenities and opportunities they need to flourish. A strong AFFH regulation will amplify the impact of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing equity in our country.
Background and context
The mandate to affirmatively further fair housing has been an essential component of the Fair Housing Act since it was passed in 1968. It is meant to rectify our nation’s deep inequities in access to opportunity: the result of unfair policies put in place over many decades; policies that have created unfair systems depriving millions of people access to secure and healthy housing opportunities. Those systems – unfair appraisals, biased technologies, a dual credit market, restrictive zoning policies, health and food deserts and many more – are driving disproportionate outcomes in health, education, wealth, homeownership, technology, environment, climate, employment and other areas.
