FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a final rule exercising the department’s authority to enforce the Fair Housing Act and create a national standard to clearly delineate discriminatory housing practices. As arbiters of this rule, HUD is responsible for identifying and eliminating housing practices that have intended or unintended discriminatory effects and create segregated housing patterns based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
“NCLR commends HUD for the release of such a critical rule. This is a profound step forward in the fight against discrimination. Over the past four years, Latinos have experienced great hardship in the housing market, with disproportionately high rates of foreclosure and unnecessary barriers to purchasing and keeping their homes,” said Janis Bowdler, Director of Economic Policy at NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “Latinos are projected to account for nearly 50% of first-time homebuyers by 2020. HUD’s new rule will help ensure that policies for these future homeowners are fair and that quality, affordable housing is accessible for all.”
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