Topic: In the News

To encourage owners of assisted sites to implement smoke-free housing policies, HUD recently posted a notice (H 2010-21) that sets the requirements for such policies. The notice applies only to those sites that choose to set such policies.Whether owners choose to set policies that allow smoking in individual units but ban smoking in all common areas, or create policies to create a totally smoke-free site, the policies must:Conform with state and local laws;

HUD has released its first report on the state of fair housing in America. HUD's Fiscal Year 2009 annual State of Fair Housing Report highlights the agency's progress in enforcing the Fair Housing Act (FHA), identifies challenges that remain, and demonstrates its commitment to end housing discrimination. The key findings include:HUD and the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies received 10,242 complaints alleging a violation of the FHA. This was the fourth consecutive year that the number of housing discrimination complaints exceeded 10,000.

HUD is charging the owner of a Wisconsin apartment complex and its management company with discrimination for denying an accessible parking space to a resident who has difficulty walking and has braces on both legs.

HUD has charged a nonprofit community service agency in Miami with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to make one of its units accessible for a disabled veteran. The charges were filed against the Urban League Housing Corporation of Greater Miami, its president, and a management company.The charges have come as a shock to the community, where, according to the Miami NewTimes, the Urban League has been instrumental in desegregating public housing and reinforcing Miami's Fair Housing Ordinance.

Nearly 14 years after the Lead Disclosure Rule was put into place, HUD is still encountering site owners and managers who are violating the rule. Just recently, HUD announced settlements with two San Antonio owners for failing to warn their residents that their homes may contain potentially dangerous lead paint.

HUD is charging two apartment building owners in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with discriminating against a Vietnam-era veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder by denying his request to have a therapeutic service dog in his unit. HUD also contends that the owners retaliated against the resident by threatening to evict him because he filed a housing discrimination complaint.

HUD is launching a national study on discrimination in the sale or rental of housing against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) community. Sexual orientation and gender identity is not currently protected under federal fair housing law, but HUD is exploring a rule to broaden the definition of “family” to recognize LGBT families.

HUD, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are working together to coordinate federal policies, programs, and resources to help urban, suburban, and rural areas build more sustainable communities. The partnership is focused on ensuring that housing and transportation goals are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change.

Use of the Enterprise Verification (EIV) system became mandatory on January 31. Earlier this year, HUD also issued Notice H 2012-02, which informs owners and managers of Section 8 and HUD-assisted sites of the distribution requirements of its EIV and You brochure.

HUD announced that it has awarded the first Recovery Act Green Retrofit Grant for Multifamily Housing to Jonathan Rose Companies, a New York-based property with almost 200 units.