HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is Making Progress in Addressing Civil Rights Compliance Review Challenges

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD or Department) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity’s (FHEO) process for conducting civil rights compliance reviews.  FHEO’s operational readiness to carry out robust compliance reviews is critical to HUD’s goals to advance equity and support underserved communities.  Our objective was to survey and assess challenges FHEO faced in conducting compliance reviews. Based on our survey, FHEO is making progress in addressing several challenges in conducting civil rights compliance reviews, including (1) limited staff and resources, (2) the need for trained and experienced staff, (3) a lack of centralized guidance for conducting compliance reviews, (4) a lack of guidance for making strategic target selections, and (5) structural barriers that affect compliance reviews.  With increased resources and capacity, improved guidance, increased authority to determine and interpret civil rights related program requirements within the Department, and a commitment from all program offices, FHEO's compliance review function can be more effective in promoting compliance with civil rights laws.