HUD steps up on source of income discrimination: HUD recently took an important step forward to protect families with vouchers, authorizing the use of federal Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) funds by state human rights agencies for testing and investigation of source of income discrimination cases. This follows a similar 2021 memo authorizing source of income discrimination testing and investigations at HUD funded fair housing centers. See the new HUD memo here.
Small Area FMR implementation: We have heard that at least one PHA is already trying to evade HUD’s new mandatory Small Area Fair Market Rents, so strong advocacy will be important over the next few months to ensure that families with vouchers have the fair housing choices they deserve. In case you missed it, a recording and other materials from the recent PRRAC-NHLP webinar on the new Small Area FMRs is available here.
Other recent fair housing advocacy: We helped contribute to the annual letter to HUD from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on civil rights priorities in housing for 2024.
Other news and resources
A Civil Rights Agenda for the Next Quarter Century: The UCLA Civil Rights Project has commissioned a series of research and policy papers imagining the future of the civil rights movement in America – and will be highlighting the results at a live Capitol Hill briefing on March 13 (which will also be available online) – register here!
The expanding right to counsel: The National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel continues to track the expanding right to counsel in eviction cases, with many recent victories, and bills now pending in eight states. Follow the movement here.
Gender justice in housing: The National Women’s Law Center has issued another detailed study in a series underlining the disproportionate impact of eviction and housing insecurity on women, and women of color in particular. See The Continuing Need for Gender, Racial, and Disability Justice in the Rental System.
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