Fair Housing is the right of all people to be free from discrimination in the rental, sale or financing of housing. Equal access to rental housing and homeownership opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status (the presence of children under 18) or disability, is the cornerstone of federal Fair Housing Policy.
Local cities and counties that receive certain federal housing or community development funds have a role in affirmatively affirming Fair Housing. Washington County's Office of Community Development (OCD) administers both the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), which are funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As a condition of receiving these funds, Washington County must prepare and periodically update an Analysis of Impediments Plan that identifies potential impediments to Fair Housing choice and presents strategies and actions to help address them. The County and its partners must follow through by taking action and reporting on progress annually in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).