Fair Housing

It is the policy of Minnesota Housing to affirmatively further fair housing in all its programs so that individuals of similar income levels have equal access to Minnesota Housing programs, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, familial status, gender identity or sexual orientation. Minnesota Housing's fair housing policy incorporates the requirements of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendment Act of 1988, as well as the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Fair Housing Resources for Minnesota Housing Multifamily Assisted Developments

Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP)

• AFHMP Overview and Instructions
• HUD Form 935.2A
  • Affirmative Marketing Toolkit - the toolkit helps in creating an AFHMP and generates Form HUD-935.2A including demographic data.
  • For toolkit technical support, please visit www.HousingLink.org or email Don Combs at dcombs@housinglink.org.
  • AFHMP HUD Form 935.2A - This is a blank fillable form not connected to the toolkit on HUD's website and can be accessed when the toolkit is unavailable.
• Minnesota Housing's AFHMP Addendum
• Owner/Agent AFHMP Review Verification Form
• Draft Marketing Letter
• AFHMP Community Contacts List - Metro Area
• AFHMP Community Contacts List - Greater Minnesota

Tenant Selection Plan Guidance

• Tenant Selection Plan Guidelines

Violence Against Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2013, signed into law in March of 2013, expanded housing protections to programs beyond the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) public housing program and HUD’s tenant-based and project-based Section 8 programs that were covered by the Reauthorization of VAWA in 2005. Additionally, the 2013 law provides enhanced protections and options for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. HUD issued VAWA regulations in November 2016 that affect Minnesota Housing programs such as HOME, National Housing Trust Fund, Section 8, Section 811 PRA, and Section 236.

IRS has not issued implementation guidance for section 42. Please review section 5.14 of the Housing Tax Credit Compliance Manual for Minnesota Housing’s recommendations on implementing VAWA in tax credit properties.

Forms and Notification Requirements: HUD has required certain forms and notifications for applicants and tenants to comply with the VAWA final rule and has posted these and additional resources on its VAWA webpage. Minnesota Housing has drafted a VAWA Guidance Summary to work in tandem with the VAWA Final Rule and help owners and agents with implementing and complying with these regulations.

Guidance Summary

Lease Addendum: HUD developed a VAWA lease addendum and it has not been updated to reflect the newer regulations. Until that addendum is updated, Minnesota Housing will require additional attachment to the addendum for HOME and National Housing Trust Fund.

• HUD Lease Addendum
• Minnesota Housing Attachment for HOME and NHTF

Emergency Transfer Plan (ETP):  Emergency Transfer Plans are a new requirement under the VAWA Final Rule.  Additional details can be found in the VAWA Final Rule and Minnesota Housing VAWA Guidance Summary.

• HUD Multifamily Programs:  For HUD Multifamily covered programs such as Section 8 and Section 236, HUD provides a model form for Owners and Agents to use to develop this plan.  Please access the model ETP on HUD Clips at www.hud.gov. The form number is 5381.
• HUD CPD Programs:  For HOME, NHTF and Section 811 PRA, HUD requires the grantee/Participating Jurisdiction (Minnesota Housing) develop an Emergency Transfer Plan.
  • HOME/NHTF Emergency Transfer Plan
    • HOME-assisted and National Housing Trust Fund-assisted units
  • Section 811 PRA Emergency Transfer Plan

State of Minnesota Fair Housing Planning

The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) is completed in cooperation with other state agencies, Department of Employment and Economic Development and Department of Human Services, as part of the consolidated planning process for housing and community development (Consolidated Plan). Annual updates and a summary of actions the state has taken are included in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).

• Full 2018 Analysis of Impediments Report
• Executive Summary and Action Items

General Fair Housing and Tenant Right Resources

These resources are provided for informational purposes only.  Minnesota Housing does not endorse these organizations and is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the following web sites.

FairHousingMN.org Resource Guide

Fair Housing and Tenant Rights

Legal Services

Enforcement

Community Education

League of MN Human Rights Commissions
4100 Lakeview Avenue North
Robbinsdale, MN 55442
763.535.1051

Predatory Lending

Resources for Housing Providers

John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Center

National Fair Housing Alliance

HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Bazelon Center

Minnesota Legal Services Coalition

National Housing Law Project

Technical Assistance Collaborative (resources for people with disabilities)

Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST