Between 2000 and 2013, the number of people living in high-poverty almost doubled, rising from 7.2 million to 13.8 million. Today, over 14 million people – including over 4 million children – live in communities of concentrated poverty. Nationwide, more than 4000 of these neighborhoods exist. The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule (AFFH), can help change this trajectory of growing poverty and inequality. Under AFFH, state, public housing authority, and jurisdictional leaders receive support in integrating housing, health, transportation, education, environmental and economic development approaches designed to transform disinvested, high-poverty neighborhoods and foster access to affordable housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods. The AFFH helps local leaders succeed in meeting the requirement to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing as set forth in the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The process, the Assessment of Fair Housing, offers guidance, a data and mapping tool, and technical assistance to help identify and overcome persistent challenges related to disparities in opportunity and fair housing choice. 

This webinar features recent HUD leadership involved in the pilot and implementation of the AFFH and leaders from Kansas City, MO; Philadelphia; and Wilmington, NC who were the first to implement the AFFH offering regionally, in both large and small city experiences. 

Featured Speakers: 

• Sarita Turner, PolicyLink (moderator) 
• Dwayne Marsh, GARE 
• Harriet Tregoning, Former Head, Community Planning Development, HUD 
• Paul D’Angelo, Tribute Companies, Inc. 
• Suzanne E. Rogers, City of Wilmington 
• Verner Lamar Wilson, V. Lamar Wilson Associates, Inc. 
• Catherine Califano, City of Philadelphia 
• Coleman McClain, City of Kansas City 
• Gloria Ortiz Fisher, Westside Housing