HUD Plans to Revive Fair Housing Rule

The department is proposing an updated version of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, which requires local governments to take action to end residential segregation.

2 minute read

January 19, 2023, 10:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


In an opinion piece published on CNN.com, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge explains the importance of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, a mandate aimed at furthering the Fair Housing Act that was ended by the Trump administration in 2020.

The rule “requires HUD, and those who receive our funding, to take proactive and meaningful action to overcome patterns of segregation, to promote fair housing choice, eliminate disparities in housing-related opportunities and foster inclusive communities that are free from discrimination,” Fudge explains. Now, the Biden administration is proposing an updated version “that builds on the successes of the 2015 rule and proposes refinements to make it stronger, based on a deliberative and thoughtful engagement process.”

According to Fudge, the proposal would enable state and local leaders to advance fair housing and create mechanisms to leverage federal funding with other sources. “Most importantly, the proposed rule would give the community a seat at the table in our ongoing work to guarantee fair housing, while adding accountability mechanisms to ensure that recipients of HUD funding comply with their duty to affirmatively further fair housing.”

While Trump called the previous AFFH rule an attempt to “abolish the suburbs,” fair housing advocates see it as a way for the federal government to ensure that cities and states examine any potential civil rights violations and develop plans to address historical inequities in their housing markets. The 2015 rule established a concrete framework for compliance that included an assessment some communities found too onerous. An article in Bloomberg CityLab explains that the proposed Biden rule, which calls on municipalities to produce local equity plans every five years, will give local officials greater flexibility.

Thursday, January 19, 2023 in CNN

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

0 seconds ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of passengers on transit bus at night.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort

Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

45 minutes ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Man sitting on bench sillhouetted against golden hour trees in tranquil park.

‘Smart Surfaces’ Policy Guide Offers Advice for Building and Maintaining Urban Tree Canopies

Healthy, robust tree canopies can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and improve air quality.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of gold-covered New Jersey state capitol dome in Trenton, New Jersey at dusk.

New Jersey Lawsuit Targets Rent-Setting Algorithms

The state of New Jersey is taking legal action against landlords and companies that engage in what the state’s Attorney General alleges is illegal rent fixing.

2 hours ago - New Jersey Monitor