2013 CDBG Recipients' Workshop Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division “The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is committed to providing all persons with equal access to its services, programs, activities, education and employment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability or age.”

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division What Has DCA Done to Enhance AFFH Efforts? FHEO Audit Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing ▪Develop Department-wide Effective Communication Policy Outlines DCA’s policies to ensure equal access to programs for: –Persons who are disabled »Provide Reasonable Accommodations »Appoint 504/ADA Coordinator »Complete “Self-Assessment”

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division What Has DCA Done to Enhance AFFH Efforts? Develop Department-wide Effective Communication Policy (Cont.) Outlined DCA’s policies to ensure equal access to programs for: –Persons who are disabled »Provide alternate formats (where feasible) »Enhance Outreach Efforts »Develop Grievance procedures (internal and external)

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division What Has DCA Done to Enhance AFFH Efforts? Develop Department-wide Effective Communication Policy (Cont.) –Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons »Develop a Language Access Plan (LAP) »Complete analysis to identify who may need assistance »18 Georgia counties meet the DOJ threshold of 5% of population who speaks a language at home other than English as their primary language and speak English “not well” or “not at all” (Spanish).

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division What Has DCA Done to Enhance AFFH Efforts? Develop Department-wide Effective Communication Policy (Cont.) –Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons »Require that grantees in those 18 counties provide outreach and public notices in Spanish as well as English (See Special Conditions) Atkinson CountyEvans CountyHall County Clayton CountyGilmer CountyMurray County Cobb CountyGordon CountyPolk County Colquitt CountyGrady CountyTelfair County DeKalb CountyGwinnett CountyTift County Echols CountyHabersham CountyWhitfield County

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division What Has DCA Done to Enhance AFFH Efforts? Local AFFH Efforts

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Applicability ▪Infrastructure improvements ▪Public Facilities ▪Neighborhood Revitalization ▪Economic Development ▪Down-Payment Assistance ▪Section 8 Rental Assistance ▪Any activity receiving federal funds

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Applicable Categories Race Color National origin Religion Gender Familial Status Disability Status Age Any other protected categories of persons

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Applicable Laws and Regulations Several Federal laws protect individuals from discrimination and apply to CDBG funded activities. These include: ▪Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. ▪Section 109 of the HCD Act of 1974, Title I - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, and sex within Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs or activities.

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Applicable Laws and Regulations ▪Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) prohibits discrimination in housing-related transactions on the above basis as well as familial status and disability. ▪Section 104(b)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 – requires that each grantee certify that the grant will be administered in conformance with the Fair Housing Act and that the grantee will “affirmatively further fair housing” (AFFH).

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division September 16, 2011 Applicable Laws and Regulations Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended – prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) – Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all services, programs and activities made available by State and local governments.

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Applicable Laws and Regulations Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 – requires that buildings constructed or assisted with federal funds be accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of requires that employment and other economic opportunities arising in connection with housing rehab, construction or other public construction projects shall be given to low- and very low-income persons, to greatest extent feasible (24 CFR Part 135 and 24 CFR ).

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Applicable Laws and Regulations States and Local Governments receiving CDBG funds must certify that they will affirmatively further fair housing (24 CFR and 24 CFR Part (a)(1)).

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division State government responsibilities: ▪Identify impediments to fair housing choice Formerly Analysis of Impediments (AI) Now called Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) ▪Conducting fair housing planning AFH will require better coordination with Consolidated Planning ▪Taking actions to overcome the identified impediments ▪Maintaining records ▪Assuring that local governments comply with certifications.

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Local government responsibilities: ▪Develop proposed action to AFFH for state review and approval ▪Develop complaint procedure ▪Develop method for documenting efforts to promote and monitor activities ▪Other requirements may be imposed by state

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Complaints/Violations of FHEO Any and all citizen complaints are reported to HUD Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity (FHEO) for investigation. Additional information can be obtained in the CDBG Recipient Manual or at HUD

Page CDBG Recipients' Workshop Community Finance Division Contact Information Pam Truitt, Grants Consultant Phone: (404) Michael Casper, Compliance Manager Phone: (404) Steed Robinson, Office of Community Development Director Phone: (404) Glenn Misner, Office of Field Services Director Phone: