Standoff over fair housing rules continues as Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with counterparts from 18 other states, makes an appeal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) about a controversial rule change. According to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Raoul has made his opposition clear, stating, "HUD's proposed rule change is a step backward," further highlighting that it contradicts the agency's own commitment to actively combat segregation and ensure fair housing for all.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) imposes on HUD the responsibility to "affirmatively further fair housing," a mandate that directs the agency to be proactive in dismantling segregation and promoting inclusive communities, however, the interim final rule introduced by HUD waters down these obligations by easing the requirement for grantees to conduct thorough fair housing planning processes, a shift the attorneys general argue ignores HUD's legal duty and undermines past efforts towards equality.
This pushback from Raoul and other attorneys general underscores the significance of HUD's enforcement role, which if reduced could exacerbate racial segregation in housing, something that remains entrenched in Illinois—a state where, as per the Illinois Attorney General's office, cities like Decatur and Chicago continue to be highly segregated along racial lines leading to equally segregated educational institutions, affecting large numbers of Black students.
