Today, we sent a letter to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Together with our partners at Legal Aid Justice Center and the Virginia Poverty Law Center, we called on HUD to revoke a newly proposed rule that would significantly undermine equal access to housing.  Here’s why.

The 1968 Fair Housing Act made housing discrimination illegal. It also required HUD “affirmatively to further” the goal of eliminating bias in housing. The law directed HUD to make rules that would help fix problems caused by past discrimination.

In the half-century since then, HUD has drafted rules to affirmatively further fair housing. But none of those rules are in place. And now, things could get worse.

Recent draft rules made an impact, encouraging some local governments to put programs in place addressing past discrimination. But HUD has just proposed a new version of the rule that would wipe away the goals of the recent drafts — replacing them with a pass for violating the Fair Housing Act.

How’s this for irony? HUD’s 2025 proposed final rule to affirmatively further fair housing would dramatically weaken obligations of local governments to prove they’re working to ensure equal housing access. We can’t let that happen.

Over the last few weeks, through our email list and social channels, we’ve asked for supporters to sign our letter calling on HUD to do what’s right.  And many of you stepped up.  Thank you!

In the letter we sent today, we asked HUD to make a few simple but important moves:

• Revoke the new proposed rule weakening fair housing law.
• Restore and finalize the 2021 draft rule with stronger fair housing protections.
• Fully implement the 1968 Fair Housing Act.

We’re grateful for all of our supporters who have joined our call.  We will keep you posted.