On Friday, March 13, Children’s HealthWatch submitted a public comment on the Department of Housing Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule on “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing”. The evidence on the connection between housing and health is clear: when children live in quality, stable homes their families can afford in neighborhoods with ready access to opportunity, they are better able to thrive. Previous research documents the ways in which these four domains – quality, stability, affordability, and location – impact the short- and long-term health of children. Research also demonstrates the importance of ensuring all four domains are adequately met in order to form the optimal foundation for children’s health. The proposed rule will weaken the Fair Housing Act of 1968 through changes to the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, which will, in turn, threaten the health of children and their families by exacerbating risks in all four of the housing domains, particularly through increased segregation – a strong predictor of health inequities.

Our future national prosperity depends on the well-being of our nation’s children and their families. As those who care for the health of America’s children, we strongly oppose any administrative action that would harm the health of children, particularly the youngest, and their families and urge the administration to withdraw this proposal in full immediately, and resume implementation of the 2015 AFFH rule.