Balanced Housing Solutions will be presenting “Structuring Housing Preferences Without Violating Fair Housing Laws”. This webinar will cover some of the following topics:

• A refresher on the Fair Housing Act, protected classes, and the ongoing importance of Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH).

• Understanding discriminatory effects (disparate impact) and how to evaluate if a preference could be viewed as creating unlawful segregation or limiting fair housing choice.

• A deep dive into the legal risks and enforcement trends surrounding residency, live/work, veteran, and disability status preferences.

• Best practices for drafting neutral, inclusive language and using evidence-based justifications to minimize legal exposure.

• A review of real-world examples to identify "red flags" and discuss compliant alternatives.

Participants will receive a follow-up resource packet featuring a fair housing preference risk-assessment worksheet and a summary of best practices to help ensure long-term program compliance. We encourage grantees, housing authorities, housing developers, and program administrators to attend and ask questions!