ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING CHOICE (AI) City of Missoula

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice HUD required certification to affirmatively further fair housing: 1. Analyze and identify impediments to fair housing choice 2. Take appropriate actions to overcome the effects 3. Maintain records reflecting the analysis and actions Fair Housing Act: Prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions based on: on the following bases: race, sex, color, religion, national origin, handicap/disability or familial status.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice The State of Montana also protects the following classes: marital status, creed, political ideas, and age. Additionally, the City of Missoula protects the following classes: ancestry, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. As such, HUD requires that the AI incudes an assessment of how fair housing choice affect these additional protected classes.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Part of Consolidated Plan process. Covers CDBG, HOME, ESG & NSP federal funding sources What are impediments? HUD definition: 1. Any actions, omissions, or decisions taken because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin which restrict housing choices or the availability of housing choices 2. Any actions, omissions, or decisions which have the effect of restricting housing choices or the availability of housing choices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice AI Process Review of demographic and housing market data, legislation, zoning and land use, education and awareness, mechanism to receive and process complaints, mortgage lending patterns, foreclosures, legal cases and complaints, fair housing testing, public education and outreach, and a community fair housing survey. Includes an assessment of the previous impediments and the status of actions taken to address them. Community Participation Process (AI) Maximum participation and input including citizens, officials and boards, realtors, non-profit organizations, chamber of commerce, agencies, and key community development entities through: 1. Online and paper surveys for residents, realtors, housing providers and lenders. 2. Public meetings, key person interviews and focus groups.

Examples of Housing Discrimination An agent refusing to sell, rent, or show available housing. A person only being shown housing in areas or neighborhoods of minority concentration. A landlord providing different housing services, or enforcing different rules, for the disabled. A prospective tenant being told the dwelling is not appropriate for a family. A dwelling has an available sign, but prospective tenants are told it is not available.

Examples of Housing Discrimination The existence of planning and zoning regulations that limit the ability or choices of certain groups to secure decent housing. E.g. definition of family. A person being denied a loan, or getting a higher interest rate, because of being a member of a group. A person being denied a loan, or getting a different interest rate, because of buying in a minority neighborhood. Refusing to make a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability.

Legal Cases of Housing Discrimination August 2012 – Case of a West Virginia woman and her autistic brother being denied housing. Added conditions: $1m insurance policy, tenant to sign paper, doctor’s note. “Harm to self.” October 2009 – Case of Minnesota trailer park owner discriminating against a Mexican American couple. Refused to rent after seeing wife and stating “too many of you.” January 2012 – Case of Huntsville public utility company that discriminates based on national origin.

Examples of Impediments Lack of awareness and education on fair housing Affordability of housing Accessibility to housing for persons with disabilities – difficulty in finding housing and costs of making physical modifications Growth and Development patterns – concentration of public housing