Political Quotes

“This amendment slashes funding for the HUD office responsible for enforcement of fair housing law by 25 percent below fiscal year 2023, undermining basic civil rights protections that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, and familial status. This gutting of the office would result in the loss of an estimated 150 personnel who work to enforce the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and other civil rights laws. In addition to improper investigation of fair housing complaints, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity coordinates with the Department of Justice, trains fair housing practitioners, enforces VAWA protections, manages grants, conducts civil rights reviews of HUD investments, and develops policies that proactively advance housing equity. Mr. Chair, I have seen firsthand in Chicago how, for example, LGBTQ youth--who are over-represented in the homeless population--can face discrimination when attempting to access homeless shelters. HUD guidance has played a critical role in clarifying the responsibilities of housing providers and assisting them in how to best promote fair and equal access. Again, weakened civil rights enforcement hurts our most vulnerable constituents the most. In 2021, 54 percent of fair housing complaints nationwide were cases of discrimination on the basis of disability. Housing affordability is not the only crisis Americans face when seeking stable housing.…”