HUD Launches Gay Projects

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced a series of proposals Oct. 21 to ensure that HUD’s housing programs do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“The evidence is clear that some are denied the opportunity to make housing choices in our nation based on who they are and that must end,”
Donovan said. “President Obama and I are determined that a qualified individual and family will not be denied housing choice based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Following a public-comment period, HUD’s new rules will:

* Clarify that the term “family” as used to describe eligible beneficiaries of the public-housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs includes otherwise-eligible GLBT individuals and couples.

* Require grantees and those who participate in the department’s programs to comply with local and state nondiscrimination laws that cover sexual orientation or gender identity.


* Specify that any Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgage loan must be based on the creditworthiness of a borrower and not on unrelated factors or characteristics such as sexual orientation or gender identity.

HUD also announced it will commission the first-ever national study of anti-GLBT discrimination in the rental and sale of housing.

“There are state and local studies that have shown this sort of bias,” the agency said. “It is believed that LGBT individuals and families may remain silent (about it) because in many local jurisdictions, they may have little or no legal recourse.”

by Rex Wockner

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today