Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

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About Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD's goal is to create equal housing opportunities for all persons living in America by administering laws that prohibit discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and familial status.

What HUD Can Do For You

HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity administers federal laws and establishes national policies that ensure all Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice. Particular activities carried out by the Office include implementing and enforcing the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.

In addition, the Office:

  • manages the Fair Housing Assistance Program, administers the award and management of Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants, and proposes fair housing legislation;
  • works with other government agencies on fair housing issues;
  • reviews and comments on Departmental clearances of proposed rules, handbooks, legislation, draft reports, and notices of funding availability for fair housing considerations;
  • interprets policy, processes complaints, performs compliance reviews and offers technical assistance to local housing authorities and community development agencies regarding Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968;
  • ensures the enforcement of federal laws relating to the elimination of all forms of discrimination in the Department's employment practices;
  • conducts oversight of the Government-Sponsored Enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to ensure consistency with the Fair Housing Act and the fair housing provisions of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act; and
  • works with private industry, fair-housing and community advocates on the promotion of voluntary fair housing compliance.

For more information about fair housing practices, please visit the HUD website.

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Fair Housing