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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: | |
| July 8, 2015 | Joseph Rendeiro | |
| (202) 776-1566 | ||
| jrendeiro@nclr.org |
NCLR Applauds New HUD Rule to Promote Fair Housing and Expand Opportunities for Latinos
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced a long-awaited rule that would address housing discrimination and segregation in communities across the country. As NCLR (National Council of La Raza) has documented in numerous reports, Latinos are still discriminated against at almost every level of the housing industry.
This rule strengthens the mandate under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) to affirmatively further fair housing and requires communities that use federal taxpayer funds to collect data on how their neighborhoods fare. To help communities achieve this goal, HUD provided a robust data tool that helps jurisdictions capture poverty rates and racial makeup, among other factors, to more accurately assess patterns of racial bias in housing. Communities will also be required to publically report these data and set goals, which will be monitored, to combat segregation and discrimination.
NCLR applauds HUD and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro for this much-needed rule, which will help communities identify barriers to fair housing and hold them accountable for finding solutions.
“For Latino families, who are among the most vulnerable to fair housing violations, strong regulations that combat systemic discrimination are essential to expanding opportunities and promoting healthier, safer and more diverse communities. Persistent segregation in communities often prevents low-income people and people of color from accessing quality schools, transportation and jobs,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “This strong rule from HUD will help address the growing racial and ethnic inequalities in this country by ensuring that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, family status or disability, may choose where they want to live.”
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
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