ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FAIR HOUSING

Policy Federal Fair Housing accessibility requirements for new multifamily buildings should be written in building code language certified as Fair Housing compliant by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD should be vigilant in compliance education and assistance as is NAHB. Use of Fair Housing Initiatives Program funding for enforcement actions should be curtailed. Any enforcement actions should be reasonable and reflect lack of clear guidance available for complying with Act. Background The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 requires new multifamily buildings constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 and consisting of four or more units to be accessible to disabled persons. HUD issued accessibility guidelines on March 6, 1991 and a supplementary design manual in August 1996 to provide guidance on complying with law. But HUD's guidelines were poorly promulgated and not written in building code language, making it impractical for builders and local officials to define compliance, which has led to conflicting interpretations and inadvertent failures to meet certain requirements. In response, building code language was cooperatively developed by NAHB, HUD, International Code Council, and disability advocates and completed in May 2000. HUD has certified that building code language satisfies accessibility requirements of Fair Housing Act and NAHB is promoting state and local adoption of compliant code language. Federal promulgation of requirements must still be intensified, however, if compliance is to be improved. Addressing noncompliance of existing covered buildings (constructed for occupancy after March 13, 1991) remains contentious. Federally funded private advocacy groups and state and local housing agencies, HUD, and Department of Justice are all actively involved in current enforcement actions and will continue to be. These actions are often threatening, based on questionably broad interpretations of federal requirements, fail to reflect lack of compliance assistance at time of construction, and divert resources that could otherwise be applied to more proactive solutions.

Anthony Castelli, Attorney at Law Announces Website Update

Cincinnati personal injury attorney, Anthony Castelli recently released an updated version of his website located at http://www.castellilaw.com. The website features an attorney profile detailing Mr. Castelli’s background and expertise. It also includes each of types of personal injury claims that he handles in Cincinnati area. These practice areas include personal injury, wrongful death, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, work place construction injuries, workers compensation, social security disability, dog bites and defective product injuries.