In a May 1, 2025 comment letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), LeadingAge warned of the agency’s new, weakened approach to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH).

HUD’s Interim Final Rule, titled “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Revisions,” adjusts implementation of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) provision of the Fair Housing Act and rescinds the 2021 Interim Final Rule, which LeadingAge supported.

Specifically, LeadingAge’s letter states that HUD’s 2025 AFFH IFR removes the proactive intent of the law, as well as tools and support for state and localities to implement and enforce actions that affirmatively further fair housing.

The letter states that while our Multifamily Housing provider members don’t themselves engage directly with the AFFH plans and approaches that were required of Public Housing Authorities, HUD’s 2021 IFR made it easier for Multifamily Housing providers to collaborate with state and local governments and with Public Housing Authorities to help set meaningful goals for fair housing outcomes. Removing those structures makes it much more difficult for our membership to partner with jurisdictions to ensure the success of AFFH.

Instead, LeadingAge urged HUD to recommit to proactively fostering inclusive communities and addressing longstanding patterns of segregation and discrimination.

Read LeadingAge’s letter here.