Opinion ID: 2716173
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Defendants’ Regulatory Obligations

Text: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) grants federal funding to units of local government for the purpose of “providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 5301(c), 5303. Because the City receives grants from HUD, it is annually required to submit various reports and certifications to HUD, including a certification that it will “affirmatively further fair housing [(“AFFH”)], which means that it will conduct an analysis to identify impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction [(“AI”)], take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments,” and maintain records of the analysis and actions taken. 24 C.F.R. § 91.225(a)(1). In a similar fashion, the DHA is also required to certify that it will AFFH. See 24 C.F.R. § 903.7(o). Since 1985, pursuant to the action Walker v. City of Mesquite, No. 3:85CV-1210 (N.D. Tex.), the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas has monitored the DHA’s compliance with its obligations under the programs it administers, including its obligation to AFFH. The City and HUD were parties to the Walker litigation, and a consent decree entered into in that case also required the City to AFFH and submit records of its actions to the court, the parties, and a special master. While operating under this consent decree, the City completed AIs in 1994 and 1998. The 1998 AI and the City’s 2 Case: 13-10884 Document: 00512721590 Page: 3 Date Filed: 08/04/2014 Nos. 13-10884 & 14-10063 efforts to AFFH were challenged in the Walker litigation through the “Plaintiffs’ Motion to Require City to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing Desegregation.” The City also completed a separate AI in 2007.