HUD's 'Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing' Provokes Controversy in Congress

A rule proposed by the Obama Administration has been criticized for attempting to build an "unrealistic utopia." The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing would require cities to fund affordable housing in a broader spectrum of neighborhoods.

1 minute read

June 15, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"A final Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule due out this month is aimed at ending decades of deep-rooted segregation around the country," according to Tim Devaney.

"The regulations would use grant money as an incentive for communities to build affordable housing in more affluent areas while also taking steps to upgrade poorer areas with better schools, parks, libraries, grocery stores and transportation routes as part of a gentrification of those communities."

The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule has met staunch resistance from House Republicans, including at a hearing last week of the House Financial Services Committee, where HUD Secretary Julián Castro got an earful. All of this prior to a highly anticipated Supreme Court ruling that will weigh in on the concept of disparate impact in a case accusing the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs of focusing affordable housing in low income areas and thereby perpetuating poverty and lack of socioeconomic mobility.

Monday, June 15, 2015 in The Hill

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