The department is proposing an updated version of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, which requires local governments to take action to end residential segregation.

In an opinion piece published on CNN.com, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge explains the importance of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, a mandate aimed at furthering the Fair Housing Act that was ended by the Trump administration in 2020.
The rule “requires HUD, and those who receive our funding, to take proactive and meaningful action to overcome patterns of segregation, to promote fair housing choice, eliminate disparities in housing-related opportunities and foster inclusive communities that are free from discrimination,” Fudge explains. Now, the Biden administration is proposing an updated version “that builds on the successes of the 2015 rule and proposes refinements to make it stronger, based on a deliberative and thoughtful engagement process.”
According to Fudge, the proposal would enable state and local leaders to advance fair housing and create mechanisms to leverage federal funding with other sources. “Most importantly, the proposed rule would give the community a seat at the table in our ongoing work to guarantee fair housing, while adding accountability mechanisms to ensure that recipients of HUD funding comply with their duty to affirmatively further fair housing.”
While Trump called the previous AFFH rule an attempt to “abolish the suburbs,” fair housing advocates see it as a way for the federal government to ensure that cities and states examine any potential civil rights violations and develop plans to address historical inequities in their housing markets. The 2015 rule established a concrete framework for compliance that included an assessment some communities found too onerous. An article in Bloomberg CityLab explains that the proposed Biden rule, which calls on municipalities to produce local equity plans every five years, will give local officials greater flexibility.
FULL STORY: Opinion: HUD Secretary on how to make fair housing a reality

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

Memphis: Crime-fighting Camera Sheds Light on Police Abuse
The irony is unmistakable. Public surveillance cameras, long controversial in the criminal justice community, provided pivotal video footage of the beating of motorist Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers at a traffic stop on January 7.

How Autonomous Cars Could Impact Energy Use
The complex algorithms used by self-driving vehicle technology use massive amounts of energy, which could lead to a steep rise in carbon emissions as autonomous cars become more commonplace.

Safe Streets Grants Announced
The federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program funds planning and implementation for road safety projects aimed at reducing traffic deaths and building safe infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
York County, Human Resources
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
City of Piedmont, CA
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.