Citing confusion, difficulty of use and frequently unacceptable assessments, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has eliminated a fair housing assessment tool initially intended to be helpful to local governments.
HUD officials said rather than assisting local governments in formulating acceptable Assessments of Fair Housing (AFH), the Local Government Assessment Tool proved to be ineffective.
“We believe in furthering fair housing choice in our neighborhoods, but we have to help, not hinder those who have to put our rules into practice,” Anna Maria Farías, HUD’s assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, said. “We must make certain that our tools can facilitate the goals we all share-to build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination.”
The agency said it would reaffirm its commitment to the Fair Housing Act and the law’s requirement recipients of HUD funding must affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH).
HUD is withdrawing its Jan. 5, 2018, notice extending the deadline for submission of an Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) by local governments. Officials acknowledged any local government that has not yet submitted an AFH accepted by HUD must conduct an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to fair housing choice within its jurisdiction.
HUD officials said the process of reminding local governments of the legal obligation to affirmatively further fair housing remains in effect and their AIs serve as effective fair housing planning tools.