PART III: Coordinating HUD Programs
Coordination with the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI)

Each jurisdiction submitting a Consolidated Plan must certify that it is affirmatively furthering fair housing. The certification to affirmatively further fair housing specifically requires jurisdictions to do the following:

• Conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction,
  
  
• Take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and
  
  
• Maintain records reflecting the analysis and actions in this regard.

States are also required to assume the responsibility for assuring that units of local government who receive CDBG funding through the State comply with their certifications to affirmatively further fair housing.

The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is a review of a State or Entitlement jurisdiction's laws, regulations, administrative policies, procedures, and practices to assess how these affect the location, availability, and accessibility of housing. It is also a review of conditions, both public and private, affecting fair housing choice. The AI examines existing and potential barriers to fair housing in a community, for all classes protected under the Fair Housing Act, such as lending discrimination, inequities in service delivery; and obstacles to the provision of housing for people with disabilities. Once the AI is completed, the jurisdiction must take actions to overcome the effect of any impediments identified.

To obtain a copy of your jurisdiction's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice contact your local government housing and community development office. Small cities which are CDBG nonentitlement communities should contact their State housing and community development office for a copy of its Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.

Affirmatively furthering fair housing is critical for ensuring that viable, sustainable communities are available to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, familial status and sex. It is also a policy priority of HUD. Since the Analysis of Impediments provides a formal means of identifying what actions can be taken or problems need to be addressed in order to affirmatively further fair housing in a particular community, it is the logical source for information for you as you address affirmatively further fair housing as part of your program strategy.