Fair Housing Futures: Fulfilling the Fair Housing Act’s Promise through the AFFH Rule
April 29, 2024
10 am - 11 am PT/ 1 pm - 2 pm ET
In 1968, Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, a law that prohibits housing discrimination. But the Fair Housing Act is more than just this – it also requires communities to undo historic patterns of racial segregation and discrimination seen in many neighborhoods across the United States. This provision requires the government to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing — meaning any entity that gets public federal funds for housing (from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD) has to show how they’re using that money to proactively end housing inequities, and all the ways they affect people’s lives — from access to good schools, public transportation, jobs, and clean water and air.
But the promise of the Fair Housing Act is yet to be fully realized. For decades, the AFFH mandate was in the law, but cities were not held accountable for addressing inequities. Cities receiving funds for housing could submit a report called an Analysis of Impediments on their efforts, but it was not required. And importantly, they did not have to involve the communities most affected by housing injustices in their process. On January 19, 2023, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new AFFH rule that presents an opening for communities that have faced decades of housing divestment and displacement to design just housing futures across the country. If implemented, it would help communities address and undo historic patterns of systemic racism, segregation, and redlining.
Join panelists during Fair Housing Month to get an overview of the Fair Housing Act and the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing proposed rule. Panelists will discuss the history of the AFFH proposed rule, what it is about, why it is important for communities who have historically had to fight for safe and affirming housing, where it is now, and what role advocates can play in making sure this rule gets implemented. Attendees will learn what actions they can take to help ensure that the 2023 proposed AFFH rule gets released and implemented.
Speakers:
- Michael Santos, Associate Director of U.S. Poverty Policy, RESULTS and Chair, ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty
- Rasheedah Phillips, Director of Housing Futures and Land Justice, PolicyLink
- Josh Dubensky, Housing Policy Advocate Associate, SAGE
- Liz Ryan Murray, Director of Strategic Campaigns, Public Advocates