Fair Housing/ Equal Opportunity

1
Fair Housing/ Equal Opportunity
2
What is Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity?

• Ensuring non-discriminatory treatment and equal
  access to all recipients of CDBG funds.
• Affirmatively furthering Fair Housing.

3
Applicability

• Infrastructure improvements
• Public Facilities
• Housing Rehabilitation
• Economic Development
• Down-Payment Assistance
• Section 8 Rental Assistance
• Any activity receiving federal funds

4
Applicable Categories

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Gender
• Age
• Religion
• Any other protected categories of persons

5
Applicable Laws and Regulations

• Several Federal laws protect individuals from
  discrimination and apply to CDBG funded
  activities. These include
• Section 109 of the Housing and Community
  Development Act of 1974-prohibits discrimination
  on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex
  or religion in any CDBG-funded program or
  activity (24 CFR 570.495(b)).

6
Applicable Laws and Regulations

• Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair
  Housing Act) prohibits discrimination in
  housing-related transactions on the above basis
  as well as familial status and handicap
  (disability).
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act-No exclusion
  from participation in federally funded programs
  or activities based on race, color, or national
  origin
• Section 104(b)(2) of the Housing and Community
  Development Act of 1974 requires that each
  grantee certify that the grant will be
  administered in conformance with the Fair Housing
  Act and that the grantee will affirmatively
  further fair housing (AFFH).

7
Applicable Laws and Regulations

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  prohibits discrimination based on disability in
  any program or activity receiving federal
  financial assistance.
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 requires
  that buildings constructed or assisted with
  federal funds be accessible to and usable by
  handicapped persons.

8
Applicable Laws and Regulations

• Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development
  Act of 1968 requires that employment and other
  economic opportunities arising in connection with
  housing rehab, construction or other public
  construction projects shall be given to low- and
  very low-income persons, to greatest extent
  feasible (24 CFR Part 135 and 24 CFR 570.487).

9
Applicable Laws and Regulations

• States and Local Governments receiving CDBG funds
  must certify that they will affirmatively further
  fair housing (24 CFR 570.487 and 24 CFR Part
  91.325 (a)(1)).

10
State government responsibilities

• identifying impediments to fair housing choice
• conducting fair housing planning
• taking actions to overcome the identified
  impediments
• maintaining records
• assuring that local governments comply with
  certifications.

11
Local government responsibilities

• Develop proposed action to AFFH for state review
  and approval
• Develop complaint procedure
• Develop method for documenting efforts to promote
  and monitor activities
• Other requirements may be imposed by state

12
Complaints/Violations of FHEO

• Any and all citizen complaints are reported to
  HUD Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity (FHEO) for
  investigation.
• Additional information can be obtained in the
  CDBG Recipients Manual or at HUD www.hud.gov

13
Contact Information

• Pam Truitt, Grants Consultant
• Phone [phone]
• E-Mail pam.truitt_at_dca.ga.gov
• Rick Huber, Compliance Manager
• Phone [phone]
• E-Mail rick.huber_at_dca.ga.gov
• Steed Robinson, Director
• Phone [phone]
• E-Mail steed.robinson_at_dca.ga.gov