Lawsuit against HUD for Canceling Fair Housing Rule Is a Powerful Statement for Equality

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WASHINGTON, DC—UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) stands with its longtime partner the National Fair Housing Alliance, which earlier today filed a lawsuit against the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) following a decision to suspend a rule designed to combat housing discrimination. The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule provides methods to promote housing opportunity in all communities, and overcome historical patterns of discrimination.

The rule has served families and communities well by addressing biased mortgage lending practices, discriminatory zoning ordinances, and other obstacles to equality. The AFFH rule ensures that all Americans have a range of choices about where to live. The administration’s action to revoke this rule is just the latest in a string of attacks on American families.

“We stand with the National Fair Housing Alliance in their action to help keep HUD vigilant in protecting all Americans from discrimination in housing,” said Eric Rodriguez, UnidosUS Vice President of Policy and Advocacy. “This administration continues to weaken the government’s role in ensuring that all Americans have equal access to rent or purchase a safe, affordable home. Instead, in 2017, nearly one out of three Latinos reported discrimination when trying to find a home.”

Before the AFFH rule, there was no connection between fair housing plans and the real problems people were facing, such as a lack of access to safe, affordable housing. Unless HUD reinstates the rule now, that will happen again.

“Systemic housing discrimination has run rampant and has harmed American communities of color for centuries. It has also undermined Latinos’ ability to find affordable rental homes and achieve homeownership. Instead of standing in the way of progress, HUD should follow its mission to root out housing discrimination,” Rodriguez added.