The proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development rule would redefine fair housing standards to place more emphasis on improving housing choice rather than reducing discrimination. It would reduce regulatory burdens and eliminate the assessment tool used to map racial segregation under the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule. But housing advocates caution the plan would substantially weaken fair housing enforcement, leading to a resurgence of racial segregation across the country. Housing Secretary Ben Carson, who previously criticized President Barack Obama's fair housing rule as “social engineering," said the new rule would give people more affordable housing options in communities nationwide. “If a community fails to improve housing choice, HUD stands ready to enforce the Fair Housing Act and pursue action against any party that violates the law.

Source: ABC News January 07, 2020 17:03 UTC