Rep. Cleaver Applauds President Biden for Proposed Fair Housing Rule Combatting Systemic Racism and Inequity in Housing

(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement that it has taken critical steps to strengthen the 1968 Fair Housing Act. In addition to prohibiting discrimination, the Fair Housing Act requires HUD and other federal agencies that administer programs related to housing and urban development to administer their programs in a way that affirmatively furthers fair housing. The Biden Administration released a proposed “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule seeking to further improve a 2015 affirmatively furthering fair housing rule issued by the Obama Administration that was suspended and replaced by the Trump Administration in 2018. Once finalized, states, counties, and other municipalities that receive federal funding would be required to take affirmative steps to address historical patterns of residential segregation, provide equitable access to affordable housing, and foster more inclusive communities – or risk losing federal funds.

“Following the former President’s efforts to gut regulations that protect against segregation and discrimination in housing, I’m thrilled to see President Biden take this essential step to strengthen the Fair Housing Act and ensure equity and economic opportunity in every neighborhood across America,” said Congressman Cleaver. “By taking this bold action to root out long-held, systemic inequity in America’s housing sector, President Biden and HUD Secretary Fudge are making clear that they will stand up and fight for all families throughout the nation. While this is but one step toward true justice in housing, it is an important step forward that will enable additional action in the months and years ahead.”

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the proposed rule, program participants would submit an Equity Plan to HUD for review every five years. The plan, which is required to be developed after substantial community engagement, would contain the municipality’s analysis of fair housing challenges facing their communities, goals to be worked toward, and strategies to meet those goals and address issues the community has raised. Additionally, program participants would be required to conduct and submit annual progress evaluations that identify progress toward or any modifications necessary to meet each goal in the Equity Plan. The proposed rule also includes provisions that allow the public to file complaints with HUD if program participants fail to adhere to their stated commitments as well as other provisions that ensure HUD can hold program participants accountable if they fail to comply with this rule.

A fact sheet from HUD about the proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.