The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2006-2011,” a report that examines some of the obstacles encountered by the District of Columbia in order to comply with federal laws prohibiting discriminatory practices in housing.

As a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the District of Columbia must identify and analyze the barriers to fair housing choice and devise solutions.

“The District of Columbia, in particular DHCD, is strongly committed to addressing the impediments outlined in this report to ensure that residents have equal opportunity and access to housing choices,” said DHCD Director Michael P. Kelly.

The report highlights more than a dozen factors that could lead to difficulties in housing choice for District residents based on race and disability. Some of those factors include the high cost of housing in the District, limited awareness of where to report incidents of discrimination and the lack of accurate, accessible information on fair housing.

The report provides suggestions on how the District can overcome most of the impediments by improving coordination with other government jurisdictions, real estate developers, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations.

For more information on compliance with the Fair Housing Act, please call 202-442-7238.

Download the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2006-2011 Report here.