The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement/Conciliation Agreement with Harris County, Texas, resolving allegations of racial and national origin discrimination in the county's Post Disaster Relocation and Buyout Program. A resident who filed a complaint is also a party to the agreement.
The complaint, filed under the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, alleged that Harris County operated a mandatory buyout program in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods while offering voluntary buyouts and other hazard mitigation alternatives to majority white neighborhoods with comparable flood risk.
“Buyout programs are important tools that help families relocate from disaster-prone areas but cannot be used in a discriminatory way that adversely impact vulnerable communities of color,” said Diane M. Shelley, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD remains committed to equitable disaster recovery and resilience, and to ensuring that disaster recovery funds provided by HUD are administered consistent with applicable civil rights laws.”
Under the agreement, Harris County must provide remaining acquisition targets of its current mandatory buyout program with a "Notice of Rights," including the right to appeal the county’s buyout decision. The notice will inform acquisition targets about their right to file a discrimination complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. This notice will be available in both Spanish and English.
Additionally, any future proposals by Harris County to use HUD disaster recovery funds for mandatory buyouts must be submitted for HUD review and approval. The submission must include steps taken to ensure non-discrimination in the proposed buyout program. The agreement also includes a resolution between Harris County and the complainant where the county agreed to limit land acquisition in high-risk flood areas rather than taking an entire homestead.
Harris County denies all allegations of discrimination, and HUD has made no findings under the Fair Housing Act, Title VI or Section 109. The county entered into this agreement solely as a means to resolve the dispute satisfactorily without admissions or evidence constituting final determination by HUD.
Individuals who believe they are victims of housing discrimination can contact HUD at (800) 9669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at hud.gov/fairhousing.
