On November 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development published a proposed rule addressing the placement of transgender individuals in HUD-funded and HUD-insured housing, including federally-funded shelters. The proposed rule is intended to provide more guidance on implementing a 2012 HUD requirement addressing the housing needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. …
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Final State Budget Retains NC Human Relations Commission, State Fair Housing Act
On Friday, September 18, 2015, North Carolina Governor McCrory signed the 2015 State budget that retains the North Carolina Human Relations Commission (HRC) and leaves in place the State Fair Housing Act for the coming year. These provisions had been in doubt since June, when the state Senate had passed a budget bill that would have eliminated the …
HUD Releases “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” Final Rule
On July 8, 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a Final Rule outlining the requirements for recipients of HUD funding to address housing discrimination and segregation in their communities. The rule implements a portion of the federal Fair Housing Act that requires HUD, and recipients of certain federal funding, to take …
NC Senate Passes Bill to Repeal State Fair Housing Act & Eliminate NC Human Relations Commission
The North Carolina State Senate’s proposed budget, which passed by a vote of 32-15, with 3 abstentions, on June 18, 2015, repeals the State Fair Housing Act and eliminates the North Carolina Human Relations Commission (NCHRC), the state body that currently has authority to investigate and enforce the law. The provisions, which are contained in …
Scotland County Housing Group Settles Fair Housing Case for $2.7 Million
Raleigh, July 1, 2015 – Lawyers for 16 women who alleged they were sexually harassed by two employees of Southeastern Family & Community Services (SCFS), a Scotland County nonprofit that administers a federal housing program, have settled a federal housing discrimination lawsuit against the group and its former employees, John Wesley and Eric Pender. The settlement, which …
Survey Open Regarding Impediments to Fair Housing in Raleigh & Wake County
An on-line survey is currently being administered as part of the regional study being conducted in Raleigh and Wake County to examine impediments to fair housing. The report – an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) – is being conducted on behalf of the Cities of Raleigh and Cary, Wake County, and the …
Raleigh, Cary, Wake County, and Local Housing Authorities Conducting Analysis of Impediments
The cities of Raleigh and Cary, along with Wake County and the Raleigh and Wake Housing Authorities, are currently conducting a Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) study. The AI is intended to gather and analyze data to determine what impediments exist in the community to fair housing. In addition, the study …
Fair Housing Project Settles Discrimination Suit Against Raleigh Homeowners Association
On March 23, 2015, the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina announced that a Raleigh homeowners association and their property manager have agreed to pay $20,000 to settle a housing discrimination lawsuit that accused them of discriminating based on disability. The lawsuit was filed by North Carolina Human Relations Commission (NCHRC) in Wake …
HUD Assistant Secretary to Speak at April Fair Housing Conference
HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Gustova Velasquez will be the keynote speaker at the Twelfth Annual Fair Housing Conference on April 10, 2015, in Raleigh. The event, sponsored by the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina and the City of Raleigh Fair Housing Hearing Board, is being held …
Greensboro Adds LGBT Housing Protections
On January 6, 2015, the City of Greensboro became the first city in North Carolina to prohibit discrimination in housing based on an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The ordinance, which was passed unanimously by the City Council, applies to the rentals or sale of residential housing as well as to related housing transactions. The …