HUD recalls 'flawed' fair housing assessment tool

The agency said the move reaffirms its commitment to the Fair Housing Act

By Francis Monfort

22 May 2018

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced that it is withdrawing a fair housing assessment tool, saying local government found it to be confusing and difficult to use.

The Local Government Assessment Tool was originally intended to help local governments in meeting their obligations under the Fair Housing Act to 'affirmatively further fair housing.' HUD said the move follows a months-long technical evaluation.

Instead of helping local governments formulate acceptable Assessments of Fair Housing (AFH), the HUD said the “flawed” tool frequently produced unacceptable assessments. Following the recall, HUD plans to hold a series of national listening sessions and seek public comment on a framework for local governments to further fair housing choices in their communities.

HUD said the action reaffirms its commitment to the Fair Housing Act and the law's requirement that recipients of HUD funding must affirmatively further fair housing.

“We believe in furthering fair housing choice in our neighborhoods, but we have to help, not hinder those who have to put our rules into practice,” HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Anna Maria Farías said. "We must make certain that our tools can facilitate the goals we all share – to build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination."

HUD is currently facing a lawsuit over its suspension of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. The suit responds to HUD’s extension of the deadline under the rule by which program participants should have conducted AFHs. Following a review of initial assessments, HUD said program participants require more time and technical assistance to comply with the process and complete their submissions.