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What is the obligation to affirmatively further fair housing? Affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH) is a legal requirement that federal agencies and federal grantees further the purposes of the 1968 Fair Housing Act (FHA). The obligation to AFFH is noted in the original text of the FHA [42 U.S.C. §3608 (d)]. Additionally, any jurisdiction that receives Community Planning and Development (CPD) grant funds from HUD (including HOME funds) is required to certify that it will affirmatively further fair housing as a condition of accepting HUD grant funds. [42. U.S.0 §5304(b)(2); §5306(d)(7)(B); §12705(b)(15); §1437C -1(d)(16)] What entities are responsible for affirmatively furthering fair housing? Any jurisdiction that receives CPD grant funds is required to AFFH. This includes Consortium members and jurisdictions not part of a Consortium. Additionally, any jurisdiction that receives CPD funding must certify that it will AFFH in its Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), and in its Consolidated Plan. The AFH serves as a jurisdiction's evidence for its efforts to AFFH, including analysis of any barriers to fair housing choice, and a plan of action for addressing those barriers. By accepting HOME funds, will a jurisdiction lose authority over local land use and zoning authority? Jurisdictions do not lose authority over local land use and zoning decisions by accepting CPD grant funds, including HOME. Any jurisdiction allocated CPD funds are obligated to AFFH — but the methods a jurisdiction may satisfy that obligation are subject to local authority and local decision-making. There are many approaches to satisfying the AFFH obligation. Jurisdictions may set goals focused on incentive strategies to encourage development of affordable housing in areas near good schools, transit and healthy food, and thus expand opportunities for protected class members. Alternatively, jurisdictions may set goals to concentrate investment in certain communities suffering from a history of underinvestment to revitalize the local economy and rehabilitate substandard housing available to protected classes. Still other jurisdictions may elect to require new housing developments include a certain percentage of affordable housing after reviewing data on concentrations of protected class members at certain income brackets. HOME funds offer an essential source of subsidy for workforce housing, and acceptance of HOME funds does not relinquish local land use authority. w 2 P225