Department of Neighborhood Development
Housing Policy --- Section 13
Affirmative Fair Housing
Policy Statement
DND shall require that Sponsor's of assisted projects comply with the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing requirements of the Boston Fair Housing Commission ("Commission"). These requirements are designed to ensure equal access by all residents of Boston regardless of race, color, religious creed, marital status, familial status, military status, handicap, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, sexual preference, and source of income.
Policy
All DND-assisted projects must comply with Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing
requirements. Sponsors of projects with less than five (5) units comply with
fair housing objectives by listing units available for sale or rent with Metrolist
and by signing a Non-Discrimination Statement. Sponsors of DND-assisted projects
with five (5) or more new or vacant units must submit an Affirmative Fair Housing
Marketing Plan ("Plan") to the Commission with thirty (30) days of
receiving a final designation or firm funding commitment. The Plan describes
all the steps the Sponsor will take to guarantee fair and open housing access.
Commission staff review the Plan submitted by the Sponsor and work with the Sponsor to incorporate any amendments, if necessary. The Plan must be approved a) before a loan closing of DND funds or conveyance of DND land occurs and b) prior to advertising, application taking, or tenant-buyer selection. Following approval, Commission staff monitors Plan compliance.
In addition, the Commission will screen developers within fifteen (15) days of opening Request for Proposal responses to determine if there are any outstanding Equal Opportunity/Fair Housing complaints against each individual and entity on file at the Commission, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. DND staff will submit information to the Commission so it may complete the screening process.
Special needs housing projects with five (5) or more new or vacant units are also subject to the Commission's Affirmative Fair Marketing program. Special needs projects of less than five (5) units comply with fair housing objectives by listing units available for rent with Metrolist and by signing a Non-Discrimination Statement. Mainstream multi-family projects containing a special needs sub-component should submit a separate special needs Plan if the tenant selection process differs from that of the non-special needs units.
Additional information on Commission requirements can be obtained from its Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing and Tenant Selection Manual.
13 (11/02)
Housing Policies Table of Contents
