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Reports & Documents

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. Persons who are protected from discrimination by fair housing laws are referred to as members of the protected classes. Equal and free access to residential housing (housing choice) is a fundamental right that enables members of the protected classes to pursue personal, educational, employment or other goals. Because housing choice is so critical to personal development, fair housing is a goal that government, public officials and private citizens must embrace if equality of opportunity is to become a reality.

HUD defines an impediment to fair housing choice as any actions, omissions or decisions that restrict or have the effect of restricting the availability of housing choices, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.

The Analysis of Impediments (AI) serves as the basis for fair housing planning, provides essential information to policy makers, administrative staff, housing providers, lenders, and fair housing advocates, and assists in building public support for fair housing efforts. The governmental bodies of the five jurisdictions will review the AI and use it for direction, leadership and resources for future fair housing planning. The AI will also serve as a point-in-time baseline against which future progress in terms of implementing fair housing initiatives will be evaluated and recorded.

The 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report will be reviewed by the members of the Consortium in June.

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