Fair Housing-Presentation

Presentation - Fair Housing
Pdf Summary
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) provides comprehensive training on Fair Housing laws impacting affordable housing. The training aims to equip agency staff with knowledge of federal Fair Housing regulations, compliance strategies, barrier elimination, and complaint avoidance, while noting that state/local laws may have additional requirements.<br /><br />Key Historical Context: The Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) was enacted to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and later sex (1974). The 1988 amendments expanded protections to familial status and disabilities, strengthening HUD’s enforcement.<br /><br />Protected Classes include race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children, pregnancy, foster care), and disabilities (physical and mental impairments that limit major life activities like walking, hearing, breathing).<br /><br />Fair Housing prohibits: housing denial, unequal treatment, discriminatory advertising, false availability, and blockbusting. Recipients of federal housing funds must actively affirmatively further fair housing by promoting inclusion, combating discrimination, and reducing segregation.<br /><br />Reasonable accommodations/modifications are required for persons with disabilities unless they cause undue financial/administrative burdens or fundamental alterations. Examples include reserved parking, assistance animals (service or support animals), and structural adaptations like ramps or levers.<br /><br />Violations can lead to HUD investigations, complaints, conciliation/mediation, administrative hearings, or federal court lawsuits with remedies including damages and policy reforms. Case examples illustrate discrimination based on disability, harassment, and denial of reasonable accommodations.<br /><br />Special topics include the Equal Access Rule ensuring nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status; Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protections for victims; Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requirements for language access; and nondiscriminatory tenant screening practices.<br /><br />The training covers specific program provisions for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing (PH), including accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, architectural requirements, outreach, tenant selection, permissible preferences, and lease provisions.<br /><br />Staff must ensure confidentiality, provide communication accommodations (e.g., Braille, sign language), and follow HUD’s complaint and enforcement processes. HUD requires fair housing compliance reports and prohibits retaliation against complainants.<br /><br />Overall, the training promotes fair, non-discriminatory housing practices, active disability accommodations, legal compliance, and effective management of related housing programs to uphold housing equity and civil rights.
Keywords
Fair Housing Act
NAHRO training
Affordable housing
Protected classes
Disability accommodations
HUD enforcement
Equal Access Rule
Violence Against Women Act
Housing Choice Voucher
Non-discriminatory tenant screening