PRRAC — Connecting Research to Advocacy

Poverty & Race Research Action Council

Federal Housing Advocacy – by Program

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PRRAC focuses much of its research and advocacy on the impact of federal housing policy on racial and economic segregation in America, and the search for meaningful remedies.  We believe that it is important to invest in and improve the quality of life for low-income people of color in disinvested communities, but also that the affirmative vision of civil rights policy cannot stop there.  We also work to develop explicit, complementary policies to reduce racial and economic segregation and expand access to high opportunity communities for low-income families of color.

Included on this page are our policy briefs and advocacy communications with the Department of Housing & Urban Development, the Department of Treasury and other agencies on specific federal policy issues.

Disparate Impact (Discriminatory Effects Standard)

The Discriminatory Effects Standard (commonly known as Disparate Impact) of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 upholds our societal obligation to fairness by respecting and protecting equal opportunity. The goal of the Disparate Impact standard is to root out unjustified practices that discriminate against groups protected by the Fair Housing Act, even where there is no specific evidence of discriminatory intent.  The standard is based on an understanding of how hidden, stubborn prejudice can result in needless, facially neutral policies that discriminate against protected classes in practice.  Without clear support for this standard from the federal government, both public and private actors will be given virtual license to design and implement discriminatory policies. 

PRRAC joined a campaign along with the National Fair Housing Alliance, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, American Civil Liberties Union, and Center for Responsible Lending. As national civil rights organizations, we are united by our belief in equality and fairness, our desire to educate the public on important civil rights protections, and our commitment to #DefendCivilRights from those looking to weaken them.

Open Communities Alliance v. HUD (2020)

In October 2020, PRRAC joined in a federal lawsuit to challenge the Trump Administration’s “disparate impact” rule, which adds a series of new hurdles for victims of discrimination at the pleading stage as well as adding unprecedented new defenses, making it virtually impossible to prevail on a disparate impact claim under the Fair Housing Act. Most egregiously, the rule eliminates “perpetuation of segregation” as a basis for liability under the Act. The plaintiffs include the Open Communities Alliance (CT) and SouthCoast Fair Housing (MA), represented by lawyers from the ACLU, Lawyers Committee, PRRAC, and Cohen & Milstein.

Select Comment Letters

Other Selected Comment Letters

Relevant materials

Disparate Impact News and Opinion

HUD Performance Overviews

Advocacy and Resources on Federal Housing Programs