Louisiana’s current state constitution was passed in 1974 and rather than being a limited document that stands the test of time, it already has 197 amendments. Legislators are constantly proposing changes—often represented on the ballot in complicated legalese—that must go before the voters. Of the seven constitutional amendments and one local proposition on the ballot […]

Saturday, October 10, 2020 is National Mental Health Day.  This presents the perfect opportunity to share information about fair housing for individuals with disabilities. The Federal Fair Housing Act passed in 1968 and amended in 1988 increases equal housing opportunities by making it illegal to discriminate against people based on their race, color, religion, national […]

The Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 and amended in 1988.  It was meant to create more equality in housing practice.  The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale and rental of homes based on membership in protected classes.  These protected classes include: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and family status. […]

Our thoughts are with the communities who suffered damage due to Hurricane Laura. Below is some basic information for homeowners to assist with navigating insurance coverage, FEMA assistance, mortgage concerns and contractors in the wake of a disaster. We will be updating this guide as more specific information and resources become available. Please check back […]

In a ploy to garner votes through fear-mongering, President Trump went on a racist Twitter tirade, attacking HUD’s mandate to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH). This mandate, which was instituted by the Fair Housing Act, obligates jurisdictions across the nation to use HUD funds to desegregate neighborhoods and promote access to equal housing opportunities for all […]

In response to President Trump and Secretary Carson’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, LaFHAC reaffirms our stance that this administration’s cry to “Protect America’s Suburbs” is based on a racist mischaracterization of the aim of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) provision of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The Obama-era AFFH rule aimed to […]

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) released Gentrification and Disinvestment 2020, a report analyzing five-year data from the American Community Survey (ACS) collected during the periods 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 on neighborhood change and gentrification. Read a copy of the full report here.     As COVID-19 poses unprecedented threats to communities and demands many of us […]

Some members of our congressional delegation don’t want to spend money on the HEROES Act, which would help us all stay in our homes during COVID-19 and avert the coming eviction avalanche. But those same members gladly spent billions to protect corporations, police departments, and wealthy homeowners in previous budget and relief bills. Budgets are […]

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) recently published its annual Out of Reach report, that examines the price of a modest two-bedroom apartment in relation to the average wage a resident must make to afford the apartment. This is known as the “Housing Wage.” In Louisiana, the Housing Wage is $17.48 per hour while the minimum […]

LaFHAC is excited to welcome our summer interns and law clerks. Learn more about each of them below:  Rebecca Desta is a second year law student at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2017. Her goal is […]