Would you like to know what HUD investigators are looking for? It looks like enforcement of fair housing laws will be HUD’s new focus. The Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to beef up its enforcement might by requiring its discrimination investigators to satisfactorily complete 200 hours of advanced training in theory and techniques.

Courses will cover topics such as case management, civil rights laws and legal updates, compliance testing and monitoring and investigation and conciliation, according to a June 18 HUD release.
“The new requirements will apply to all 500 full-time investigators in Federal Housing Assistance Programs,” said Floyd May, general deputy assistant secretary in HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

HUD and its partner agencies received more than 8,000 reported discrimination complaints last year. Lesson Learned: Be sure to re-examine your state’s fair housing laws to ensure you’re in compliance and to avoid being targeted by HUD’s enforcement staff.