Fair Housing Advocates Respond to Scott Turner’s Confirmation as HUD Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2025

Fair Housing Advocates Respond to Scott Turner’s Confirmation as HUD Secretary

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA™) released the following statement from Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President, in response to Scott Turner’s confirmation as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“Fair housing is a national policy of the U.S. As our nation grapples with a fair and affordable housing crisis impacting millions, HUD’s new secretary must prioritize solutions for everyday people struggling with rising housing costs, a lack of affordable housing supply, increased complaints of housing discrimination, and technology’s growing role in determining housing decisions. HUD’s mission requires it to create vibrant, inclusive communities with opportunities for all people to thrive, and the agency demonstrated important leadership in finally creating a government-wide approach to address appraisal bias through the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) Taskforce. Appraisal bias is a feature and not a bug of the housing system that must be addressed, and the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws must be used to eliminate it. Yet, HUD has already removed the PAVE Taskforce from its website, and HUD’s new secretary has yet to state that he will use the Fair Housing Act to enforce against appraisal bias despite it causing homes in Black neighborhoods in 113 metro areas to be devalued by $162 billion.

NFHA looks forward to meeting with HUD Secretary Turner soon to discuss his priorities on safeguarding civil rights and advancing fair housing, equitable opportunities, and thriving communities. The administration’s recent Executive Orders and OMB funding freeze memorandum have already caused chaos, fear, insecurity, and dysfunction. They have adversely impacted the work of local fair housing agencies throughout the nation undermining the critical assistance they provide to people with disabilities, families with children, victims of domestic violence, senior citizens, and others in dire situations that all rely on HUD’s vital services to ensure they have safe, affordable, and accessible homes. Housing is fundamental to the American Dream and voters want leaders to quickly implement solutions to ensure they can fairly access opportunity and share in the nation’s prosperity. We hope to work with HUD under Mr. Turner’s leadership to achieve this goal.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.