The National Housing Law Project On Trump’s Proposal To Elimate Disparate Impact Rule: Rolling Back Civil Rights Will Harm Families And Worsen Housing Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Housing Law Project today released the following statement by Managing Attorney Natalie Maxwell in response to Trump’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposing to eliminate the Fair Housing Act’s disparate impact rule and abandon long-standing protections against discrimination:

“No matter our race, place, or party, we all deserve the freedom to live where we choose without fear of discrimination. Our government has protected that freedom in part thanks to the Fair Housing Act’s disparate impact rule. But in the Trump administration’s continued assault on the federal housing programs and its rollback of decades of hard-won civil rights, HUD is proposing to eliminate a rule that protects against covert forms of housing discrimination. 

“Without disparate impact, we could see landlords reject applications from immigrant families and people with disabilities and evict survivors of domestic violence who call 911 for assistance. Cities could also enact zoning laws that concentrate people of color in areas with toxic pollution.

“Since the earliest days of the Fair Housing Act, disparate impact has been an essential tool our government has used to combat housing discrimination, and has created healthier, happier, and safer communities for all, not just some. It opened doors to greater housing security for people of color, people with disabilities, seniors on fixed incomes, families with children, and people of faith. These pathways have allowed our communities to benefit from new affordable housing, and ensure that everyone, no matter their ability, age, or race, can get what they need to thrive. 

“Trump is doing everything he can to take control and stability away from us all, and especially Black and brown families. We won’t accept it. We’re ready to fight back and defend fair housing for all.”