HUD replaces fair-housing rule with local-control standard

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announces on July 23, 2020, that it is replacing the Obama-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule. HUD Secretary Ben Carson says the new “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice” rule reduces federal overreach and restores local control.\n\nThe earlier rule required local governments receiving federal housing funds to examine patterns of segregation and barriers to fair housing. The replacement rule narrows what jurisdictions must do to show they are furthering fair housing.\n\nThe rollback matters because residential segregation is one of the most durable forms of systemic racism in the United States, shaping school access, wealth, health, and political power.