housing department

Politics

Federal accessibility requirements of fair housing for new multifamily buildings should be in the building code language certified by the Fair Housing Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD should be vigilant in teaching respect and assistance is also NAHB. Fair Use Housing Initiatives Program funding for implementation should be reduced. All implementation measures should be reasonable and reflect the lack of clear guidelines to comply with the law.

Background

The Law of Fair Housing Amendments of 1988 requires that apartment buildings newly constructed for first occupancy after 13 March 1991 and consists of four units or more that are accessible to persons with disabilities. HUD issued guidelines for accessibility, 6 March 1991 and a design more manual in August 1996 to provide guidance on compliance with the law. However, the HUD guidelines were promulgated and not misspelled on the construction code language, making it impractical for builders and local officials to determine compliance, which has led to conflicting interpretations and inadvertent errors to comply with certain requirements.

In response, the building code language has been developed jointly by the NAHB, HUD, International Code Council and advocates for the disabled and was completed in May 2000. HUD has certified that the building code language to meet accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the promotion of state and local NAHB is adopting the language code compatible. Enactment of the requirements federal should be further intensified, however, if the performance improvement is needed.

Addressing non-compliance of existing buildings included (built to employment after 13 March 1991) remains controversial. Federally funded advocacy groups and public agencies and private local Housing, HUD and the Department of Justice are actively involved in implementing the measures under way and will continue. These actions threaten often based on an interpretation doubtful wide range of federal requirements does not reflect lack of compliance assistance in the construction and divert resources that could apply to more proactive solutions.

Solutions

Urge HUD to maintain compliance with education as a priority and to participate actively in the process of changing building codes to help ensure code requirements are consistent with the requirements of fair access to housing. We further urge Huda timely review of building code supported and approved of them as a safe harbor for compliance with accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing and develop a more reasonable default.

Continue to support and actively participate in continuing education and training efforts to educate builders on the accessibility requirements under the Act Fair Housing Act.

Maintain agreement NAHB Fair access to housing in education with HUD and NAHB demonstrate a commitment to improving compliance continuing education and participation in HUD compliance initiatives funded.
Support the adoption of model national code construction Accessibility approved by HUD as providing a safe haven to meet accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Working with other stakeholders, including manufacturers of construction products, disability advocates, real estate and multifamily housing design and construction groups to promote education, awareness and compliance with accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Urge HUD to prohibit the fair use of the Housing Initiatives Program funding for litigation.

Working with the Department of Justice to develop clear criteria for implementing the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Support legislative or regulatory changes that limit liability for industry members who participated in the design and construction nonconforming buildings due to lack of clear direction and made a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of the law.