Access to safe and affordable housing that is free from discrimination is vital to all facets of the lives of women, LGBTQI+ people, and families. Housing impacts health, care, education, nutrition, employment, and more. The Fair Housing Act’s affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH) mandate is vital to overcoming barriers to fair housing for women, LGBTQI+ people, and families, particularly those facing multiple forms of discrimination. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that fails to provide adequate guidance and accountability for jurisdictions receiving HUD funding to comply with the AFFH mandate.

NWLC submitted a comment to HUD opposing this IFR. NWLC’s comment described how the IFR fails to provide a framework for jurisdictions receiving HUD funds to take actions to further fair housing for women, particularly women of color, survivors of gender-based violence, women with children, women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people. The comment also describes how the IFR contradicts HUD’s statutory obligation and should be withdrawn.