Legal Action Against Boston Housing Program
The Trump administration has initiated legal proceedings regarding a housing program in Boston that gives priority to “people of color,” according to a civil rights complaint acquired by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made an announcement on Thursday stating that Democratic Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office and the local nonprofit Opportunity Communities may be engaging in practices that discriminate based on ethnicity or national origin. HUD also detailed its various outreach efforts and pointed out concerns regarding how private companies and housing funds are pushed to favor minority applicants, often referencing troubling remarks made by city officials.
HUD indicated, “Upon information and belief, the city supported a citywide system that allocates scarce housing resources based on race, color, and national origin,” accusing the city of clear racial targeting within the housing sector.
This complaint could lead to a collaborative resolution between Boston and HUD, or alternatively, the Justice Department might get involved and take legal action against the city. HUD had previously expressed its concerns in a September letter, noting Boston’s public commitment to prioritize aid for “nonwhite” individuals.
Neither Wu’s office nor Opportunity Communities provided feedback in response to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
HUD described the city’s approach as flawed, mentioning that Boston uses a race-based risk assessment for public investments. The agency noted that housing resources would be allocated in part based on the percentage of non-white residents in various neighborhoods, placing lower priority on predominantly white areas with higher rates of native English speakers.
Moreover, the city of Boston is noted to have collaborated with the private sector to address racial disparities while establishing Opportunity Communities, which HUD has flagged as promoting discriminatory housing practices. A page previously available on the nonprofit’s website mentioned a focus on utilizing a racial disparity perspective to tackle issues related to housing supply and financing.
Additionally, HUD reported on the city’s strategies to press private lenders to increase lending based on local racial demographics. The complaint states that Boston has offered property development opportunities contingent upon participants submitting plans that demonstrate inclusion of people of color in various roles.
Evidence in the complaint also suggests that Boston’s administration did not conceal its racially-driven policies. For instance, it notes that Wu hosted a Christmas gathering specifically for “people of color,” which prompted some public backlash. The Mayor later claimed she had accidentally sent invitations to everyone and expressed regret for any misunderstanding.
