On December 31, 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Assessment Tool. The AFFH Assessment Tool is for use by local governments that receive CDBG, HOME, ESG, or HOPWA formula funding from HUD, and for joint and regional collaborations between (1) local governments and (2) one or more local governments with one or more public housing agencies.

The AFFH Assessment Tool is intended to assist program participants in developing their Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) Plan, the substitute for the existing Analysis of Impediments, and complying with the AFFH Final Rule. The AFFH Assessment Tool seeks to identify fair housing issues such as racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty, patterns of integration and segregation, disparities in access to opportunity, and disproportionate housing needs. Note that until a program participant is required to submit an AFH Plan, it must still submit an Analysis of Impediments in accordance with existing HUD requirements.

In addition to the AFFH Assessment Tool, HUD released the AFFH Rule Guidebook and updated the AFFH Data and Mapping Tool. The AFFH Rule Guidebook  provides guidance on complying with the AFFH Rule and completing an AFH Plan, and identifies overlap between the AFH Plan and other plans required for HUD programs. The AFFH Data and Mapping Tool is to be used alongside the User Interface and provides data and maps needed to complete the AFH Plan. Program participants will supplement the HUD-provided data with local data and knowledge to complete the AFH Plan. HUD provides an AFFH Data and Mapping Tool User Guide to assistant program participants.

Lastly, the User Interface provides an online portal for program participants to submit an AFH Plan and collaborate with other program participants. The User Interface is currently only available to program participants that have an AFH Plan due in 2016. All other program participants are expected to have access to the system in time to begin planning their AFH. HUD will provide further instructions regarding access to the User Interface in Spring 2016. HUD also plans to hold a demonstration of the User Interface in the next few months. To participate in the demonstration, contact Yvonne.F.Hsu@hud.gov.