Fair housing is more than a compliance issue: It's an opportunity to modernize the process.

"At its core, Fair Housing (capital F and H) refers to an interwoven framework of federal, state, and local policies rooted in the Fair Housing Act that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, and disability. It originated as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and has been further expanded by many states and cities to include at least half a dozen more protected classes."

"Fair housing is also a political hot potato, and certain mechanisms attached to it, such as HUD's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) program, requires municipalities and public housing agencies to take proactive measures to identify, address, and reduce segregation and barriers to fair housing. These policies are being tweaked with each successive administration due to concerns over the legality of these proactive efforts and the resources required to maintain compliance."

"The political issues surrounding fair housing are at a fever pitch. One recent example is the case being made by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against the City of Boston's 2025 Housing Strategy Plan, which claims that Boston's Fair Housing program violates the civil rights of white people. The memo from HUD to Boston's Chief of Housing states that the city is not in compliance with HUD's regulations."

Fair Housing establishes a legal framework prohibiting housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, and disability. The framework originated as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and has been expanded by states and cities to add additional protected classes. HUD's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requires municipalities and public housing agencies to identify, address, and reduce segregation and barriers to fair housing. AFFH has been introduced, rescinded, restored, and rescinded again across administrations, shifting federal-local responsibilities. HUD recently challenged Boston's 2025 Housing Strategy, alleging noncompliance and civil-rights violations, while local officials rejected those charges.

Read at www.housingwire.com