President Obama says the Fair Housing Act and the latest final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help ensure all Americans get an "equal shot in life." Obama devoted his latest weekly address to talking about the Fair Housing Act and battling discrimination in housing.
HUD last week issued a final rule on Fair Housing that aims to "equip communities that receive HUD funding with data and tools to help them meet long-standing fair housing obligations in their use of HUD funds." The rule aims to help local governments identify patterns of racial and ethnic discrimination. HUD will issue maps, charts, and other data showing racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty; the location of subsidized housing; and where wealthier people have access to greater community assets like top-notch schools and job opportunities.
"The work of the Fair Housing Act remains unfinished," Obama said. "Just a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that policies segregating minorities in poor neighborhoods, even unintentionally, are against the law. The Court recognized what many people know to be true from their own lives: that too often, where people live determines what opportunities they have in life. … In some cities, kids living just blocks apart lead incredibly different lives. They go to different schools, play in different parks, shop in different stores, and walk down different streets. And often, the quality of those schools and the safety of those parks and streets are far from equal – which means those kids aren’t getting an equal shot in life."
HUD's latest rule will aid communities in making sure the Fair Housing Act is in place.
"We're using data on housing and neighborhood conditions to help cities identify the areas that need the most help,"Obama said. "We're doing more to help communities meet their own goals."
Source: Realtor Magazine Online
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