Fair Housing-Presentation

Presentation - Fair Housing

Pdf Summary

This NAHRO training document provides a foundational overview of federal fair housing requirements for all housing agency staff, emphasizing that state and local laws may add additional obligations and that complex cases should be reviewed with legal counsel. It explains the history and scope of the Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968), including later expansions to protected classes—sex (1974) and, through the 1988 amendments, familial status and disability. The document outlines current federal protected classes (race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability) and defines key terms such as “familial status,” “family,” and “disability,” as well as conduct not covered by the federal Act (e.g., source of income and most criminal history, though some states protect these).<br /><br />Core prohibitions include housing denial, unequal terms/conditions, discriminatory advertising, false availability, and blockbusting. It also describes the obligation to “affirmatively further fair housing” (AFFH) by taking meaningful actions to reduce barriers and segregation, noting HUD’s 2025 withdrawal of certain proposed rules while the statutory duty remains. The training covers the Equal Access Rule for HUD-funded programs (including LGBTQ+ protections), and provides guidance on disability-related inquiries, documentation, confidentiality, reasonable accommodations and modifications, “undue burden” and “fundamental alteration,” accessibility standards (including the seven FHA design features for multifamily properties built after March 13, 1991), and visitability concepts.<br /><br />Program-specific sections address compliance in Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing programs (e.g., accessible unit lists, voucher extensions, payment standards, live-in aides, transfers, waiting lists, screening/AI risks, and Section 504 obligations). The document also covers assistance animals (not pets; no extra deposits), VAWA protections and required HUD forms, limited English proficiency (LEP) language access planning and safe-harbor translation thresholds, and the HUD complaint process, enforcement options, and potential remedies. It concludes with exam and certification logistics.

Keywords

Fair Housing Act Title VIII

federal protected classes

affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH)

reasonable accommodations and modifications

Section 504 compliance

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program

Public Housing fair housing compliance

assistance animals (service and support animals)

VAWA protections HUD forms

limited English proficiency (LEP) language access