The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has long advocated for Fair Housing, in fact, has been extremely far ahead of federal government organizations by being more inclusive. Seven years ago, NAR amended the Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation as a protected class that cannot be discriminated against (Realtors in violation can lose their license). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) still has not caught up to the real estate industry, making no amendments.
Now, according to a March 5 memo to HUD political staff, HUD is altering their current mission statement “in an effort to align HUD’s mission with the Secretary’s priorities and that of the Administration.”
The current mission statement reads as follows:
HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination, and transform the way HUD does business.
It will now become:
HUD’s mission is to ensure Americans have access to fair, affordable housing and opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency, thereby strengthening our communities and nation.
Brilliantly more concise, but wildly lacking.
President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation Realtor® from Columbia, Missouri and CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty said, “we believe that fair housing for all should remain a core part of HUD’s mission. The Fair Housing Act provides that HUD will enforce the Act and administer its programs and activities in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing. When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law, he exclaimed that fair housing for all – all human beings who live in this country – is now a part of the American way of life.”
Mendenhall added, “Not only is Fair Housing integral to the ethical commitment of our members, as outlined in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, it is critical to our ability to serve our customers, clients and the community. We look forward to continuing our work with HUD to advocate for inclusive sustainable communities free from discrimination.”
Dr. Ben Carson heads HUD, and prior to his confirmation said that the Fair Housing Act is “one of the best pieces of legislation we’ve ever had in this country,” promising to issue a “world-class plan” for housing upon his confirmation. Stripping it from the mission statement is not a world-class plan, it’s a failure.
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