Maryland Department of Housing and
Community Development

HB 90 - AFFH Compliance Form

​​​​​​​​​​​​Background​

Section 2-302 of the Housing & Community Development Article requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”), in consultation with political subdivisions and housing authorities, to submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly, by December 1 of 2023 and every 5 years after, identifying (a) the efforts of the State, political subdivisions, and housing authorities to promote fair housing choice and racial and economic housing integration, and the results of those efforts, delineated by county; and (b) the actions being taken by local jurisdictions to affirmatively further fair housing.

Goal: To collect information from each Reporting Locale on steps being taken to affirmatively further fair housing within all regions in Maryland.

Definitions​

  1. “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” (AFFH) means to take meaningful actions, in addition to actions aimed at combating discrimination, to; (1) overcome patterns of segregation and (2) foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to housing and opportunity based on protected characteristics. This includes actions that, taken together: (i) address significant disparities in housing needs and access to opportunity; (ii) replace segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns; (iii) transform racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity; and (iv) foster and maintain compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws.
  2. “Local jurisdiction” means a county or municipal corporation and the territory within which its powers may be exercised.
  3. “Meaningful action” means a significant action that is designed and can be reasonably expected to achieve a material positive change by, for example, increasing fair housing choice or decreasing disparities in access to opportunity.
  4. “Political subdivision” means a county or municipal corporation of the State.

Stakeholders: All Maryland Political Subdivisions, Housing Authorities, and Local Jurisdictions (hereinafter called “Reporting Locales”).

Requirement

Each Reporting Locale must complete the AFFH template developed by DHCD.

Recurring Report: Yes, Every 5 years.​​

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