Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland COSCDA Annual Conference Salt Lake City Utah, September, 2013

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) is a legal requirement under the Fair Housing Act, under which every American has the right to fair housing, regardless of their race, color, national original, religion, sex, disability or familial status. HUD provides examples of what it considers AFFH: Marketing available housing to persons less likely to apply (in an MSA) Encouraging banks and other lending organizations to operate in areas that are underserved, and providing services to the underserved Encouraging banks to use non-traditional methods for evaluating credit and loan terms Affirmatively marketing housing (part of QWHRA legislation) which includes:

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Affirmative Marketing (continued): Advertising the availability of housing to a population less likely to apply…through various forms of media Educating persons about fair housing and their obligations Conducting outreach to advocacy groups (i.e. disability groups) on availability of housing, and Using the fair housing logo

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Some Ways DHCD meets the Marketing Elements: Ads for its programs in buses, subway trains Ads for its programs in movie theaters during the “coming events” Direct mailings to targeted census tracts where housing problems exist Ads on radio and TV, including Spanish language stations Having the Secretary or Deputy Secretary appear on TV shows to talk about programs and efforts Going to Congressional Events with a housing focus (including taking initial applications at these events for some of our programs)

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Some ways DHCD met the Education and Outreach Elements last year: Three DHCD sponsored State-wide events which covered understanding housing rights and responsibilities, discrimination, reasonable accommodation, etc. Seven non-DHCD lead fair housing events including fair housing advocates, renters, landlord, real-estate professionals, etc. where DHCD talked about programs, provided materials, etc. Six HUD or entitlement jurisdiction events Partnerships with HUD field office, Baltimore Neighborhoods, MD Commission on Human Relations that provided training on affirmatively furthering fair housing (138 events reaching over 6,800 individuals.)

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Marketing is not enough Some programs that Maryland uses to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing:

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland HOME Investments Partnership Program Affirmative Marketing is a requirement of the HOME Program (Section ) At both project “kick-off” and “pre-closing”, meetings are held with the development team, including the management company, as well as HOME staff and MF staff that includes Affirmative Marketing requirements. At loan closing for HOME funded projects, the State executes as part of the regulatory agreement a HOME Marketing Plan, which is put in the Deed of Trust. The success of the Marketing Plan is reviewed as part of the ongoing monitoring for each program by an Asset Management Officer of the Department. The Asset Manager also ensures data and measures are captured for the marketing Plan. The HOME Administrator then determines if actions were properly carried out.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP)for Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Provides rental housing to low-income households – the “800 pound gorilla” of affordable housing AFFH by providing additional Points to developers for providing units, or “extra” units for persons with disabilities (more choice). Must hold them open for set period as well as providing AFFH by requiring developers to work with Department of Disabilities to find tenants Provided more than 1,700 units (above federal minimums) since QAP started providing points for this

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Qualified Allocation Plan for Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (continued) Additional Points to developers for participating in Section 811 Demonstration program. AFFH by providing units primarily targeted to persons with mental illness and reaching un(der) served areas. AFFH Training staff to work with clients – owners, building managers, and tenants - based on our past experience with State-funded Bridge Subsidy program AFFH as is Geographically targeted to counties where many disabled live and counties did not participate in other DHCD programs for disabled households.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Homeownership for Individuals With Disabilities Program State funded program AFFH by providing a unique program that allows persons with disabilities to access all aspects of housing – buying a home. AFFH by using different underwriting requirements based on different work histories and credit “gaps”. AFFH by working with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to help bring persons with disabilities in to participate in the program.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Maryland Mortgage Program State Program through HFA to fund homes for First Time Buyers Addressed AFFH by looking at areas that are geographically underserved by our mortgage products and then working to deliver our loan products to those areas AFFH Going out to banks and community lenders and educating them about our products DHCD provides Omnibus men specifically to the lenders in geographically underserved areas to answer questions, help solve issues and problems with loans. Increased loans 16 percent in underserved areas within six months of starting efforts in February of this year.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Accessible Housing For Seniors Program State Funded Makes Handicapped and accessibility modifications specifically for elderly to “age in place”, so serves both elderly (nondiscrimination on age) and disabled (nondiscrimination on handicap) populations. DHCD works in conjunction with Maryland Office on Aging Not just a program, DHCD AFFH by going out and marketing the program to local Offices on Aging. Also AFFH by going out and marketing to lenders.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Assisting Persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) The vast majority of persons of LEP in Maryland live in entitlement communities (over 90 percent) In writing its guidance on LEP, HUD states that if an agency receives HUD’s funds, then “Coverage extends to a recipient’s entire program or activity, i.e., to all parts of a recipient’s operations…For example, HUD provides assistance to a state government’s Department of Community Development, which provides funds to a local government to improve a particular public facility. All of the operations of the entire Department of Community Development – not just the particular community and/or facility – are covered.”

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Assisting Persons of LEP (Continued) HUD Four Part Test (number, frequency, nature, costs) Maryland AFFH by Translating 100s of pages of its website into Spanish, even though the vast majority can not typically access DHCD programs AND didn’t meet the “four part test” AFFH Trying to get people who would not normally know about or access programs. Also offer verbal translation services for other languages, including Chinese, Korean, Russian, French, etc. even though residents live in entitlement areas.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Efforts in Maryland Questions and Comments? John M. Greiner Housing Policy Officer (410)