Tag: fair housing act
NAHB Seeks Additional ‘Safe Harbor’ for Accessibility Requirements
The Department of Justice is seeking NAHB’s assistance to help home builders and design professionals better understand the Fair Housing Act’s accessibility provisions. In an August letter to HUD officials, NAHB provided some concrete assistance.
Texas Court Dismisses Disparate Impact Lawsuit
A Texas court has dismissed a Fair Housing Act case, saying that the statistics that indicated “disparate impact” aren’t enough to prove that the housing authority’s policies are flawed.
New HUD Guidance Puts Damper on Background Checks
HUD’s Office of General Counsel issued guidance this week that says using a prospective tenant or buyer’s criminal record to make a decision about whether to rent or sell them a home may be a violation of the Fair Housing Act.
HUD Seeks Comments on AFFH State Assessment Tool
As part of compliance with the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, HUD has now released the State and Insular Area Assessment Tool and is requesting public comment. NAHB will review the tool in consultation with members and respond by the May 10 deadline.
HUD Publishes AFH Tool
The Department of Housing and Urban Development marked New Year’s Eve with the Dec. 31 release of its Assessment of Fair Housing tool. Local governments that receive CDBG, HOME or other block grant funding from HUD must use this tool to incorporate fair housing planning into broader community development decisions, as required under HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule.
HUD Funds Fair Housing Education Program
HUD has $39.2 million now available to fight housing discrimination under the 2015 Fair Housing Initiatives Program to support fair housing capacity building, education and outreach activities, and testing in rental and sales transactions. Successful funding applicants will receive awards of at least $325,000 and no more than $1 million.
HUD Issues New Rules to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing
New regulations announced today by HUD are intended to ensure that practices and policies of local governments do not promote racial segregation.
Supreme Court Recognizes Disparate Impact Housing Claims
In a 5 to 4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that Fair Housing Act liability can be proven without the need to show intentional discrimination.
Developers Await ‘Disparate Impact’ Decision
NAHB members are awaiting a decision from the United States Supreme Court, which on Jan. 21 heard oral argument in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project. At its heart, the issue in this case is whether disparate impact exists under the Fair Housing Act.
News You Can Use on Drywall, Risk Management
The latest issue of NAHB’s popular Construction Liability and Risk Management Update features a report on a government study that found a link between drywall imported from China and human health. Other articles focus on: Litigation involving air conditioning units and defective evaporator coils. Insurance coverage cases, including a disturbing trend involving the “contractual liability” exclusion. […]
