The Trump Administration is gutting a key requirement of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule enacted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Obama Administration.
"Undermining another Obama-era initiative, the Trump administration plans to delay enforcement of a federal housing rule that requires communities to address patterns of racial residential segregation," report Emily Badger and John Eligon. The Obama Administration enacted the landmark Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing in 2015 to better enforce the Fair Housing Act of 1968—one of the primary mechanisms of that rule now hangs in the balance.
"The Department of Housing and Urban Development, in a notice [pdf] to be published Friday in the Federal Register, says it will suspend until 2020 the requirement that communities analyze their housing segregation," add Badger and Eligon. Under the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, an Analysis of Fair Housing (AFH) was required to receive block grants and housing funding from the federal government. The notice informs cities that they "must continue to comply with existing obligations to affirmatively further fair housing"—just without performing this analysis.
According to the article, as a justification for not requiring the AFH analysis, "HUD argues that it is trying to respond to cities that have struggled with the rule’s requirements, delaying it for several years while the agency further invests in the tools communities use to assess their housing patterns."
The article includes insight from fair housing advocates who express fear that the announcement might just be a precursor to do away with the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule entirely.
FULL STORY: Trump Administration Postpones an Obama Fair-Housing Rule
The Hypocrisies and Troubles of Local Control
President Trump has opinions about the sanctity of local control that don't agree with his other opinions about local control. This is a cautionary tale.
I Have Spent My Career Advocating for Fair Housing. It's Good to See Obama's Rule Go.
The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, as adopted by the Obama administration and scrapped by the Trump administration, didn't include the policy tools necessary to achieve fair housing in the United States, according to this opinion piece.
Ben Carson’s Clear Disdain for Fair and Affordable Housing
Carson has spent much of his time as HUD secretary attacking the housing programs, initiatives, and regulations central to the agency’s mission.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie