Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Blasts U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Over Suspension Of Critical Fair Housing Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement Friday regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) decision to postpone the implementation of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule until October 2020.
“Once again, this administration is taking action that makes clear its grave hostility to protecting the rights of vulnerable Americans by suspending a critical rule that has helped promote fair housing across the country. Secretary Carson has all but abdicated his duty to affirmatively further fair housing. The suspension of the rule will bring to a grinding halt the very proactive steps that many jurisdictions have been taking to promote integrated communities and will result in the perpetuation of segregation.
“This latest action must be viewed alongside other actions taken by HUD to abandon efforts to promote fair housing across the country. We successfully sued HUD to force the implementation of the Small Area Fair Market Rent rule that was designed to increase low-income families’ access to opportunity and housing choice. The Fair Housing Act was passed 50 years ago following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King and the AFFH rule seeks to ensure that the goals of the Act are carried forward today. We will not let this latest action by Secretary Carson stand without a fight.”
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law recently sued HUD for suspending a separate rule aimed at assisting low-income families in securing affordable housing in higher-opportunity areas. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against HUD in the lawsuit, brought by a coalition of civil rights organizations.
###
About The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Lawyers’ Committee, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The Lawyers’ Committee celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 as it continued its quest of “Moving America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law, particularly in the areas of fair housing and fair lending, community development, employment, voting, education and environmental justice.
For more information about the Lawyers’ Committee, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.
