@BNIMaryland1 Today, (June 25, 2015) the Supreme Court, issued its ruling in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc., in a majority opinion written by Justice Kennedy, supporting that “disparate impact claims are cognizable” under the federal Fair Housing Act. Under this holding, policies with a discriminatory impact on minorities may be deemed violations of the Fair Housing Act, even absent the intent to discriminate.
“ The Supreme Court’s ruling assures that fair housing laws will be enforced and discriminatory policies will be challenged, based on their impact on protected class individuals, and society in general”, said Robert J. Strupp, Executive Director of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI), one of the oldest non-profit fair housing agencies in the nation. Founded in 1959, almost a decade before the federal Fair Housing Act became law in 1968, BNI enforces and promotes fair housing and works for housing justice throughout Maryland.
The petitioner in the Texas case was the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The Inclusive Communities Project (ICP), an advocacy group that supports the integration of Dallas neighborhoods, argued that TDHCA practices resulted in tax credits for affordable housing being concentrated in low-income, minority neighborhoods rather than incentivizing development in higher income, more diverse neighborhoods.
Before today’s ruling 11 of the 13 federal Appellate Courts recognized that the disparate impact on minorities, although unintentional, nevertheless violated the Fair Housing Act.
“As current events in Baltimore, and around the country have shown, 150 years after the end of the Civil War, racial hatred continues to exist and policies and practices of government are essential to creating diverse, sustainable communities and equal housing opportunity envisioned by BNI’s founders, our nation’s forefathers, and everyone who works for and believes in housing justice” said Strupp.
#
BIO
Robert Strupp is Executive Director of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI). As Executive Director, Mr. Strupp oversees day-to-day operations of the organization, including strategic, programmatic and financial planning, working for housing justice through fair housing and tenant-landlord initiatives. One of the oldest fair housing agencies in the nation, BNI is a 55 year old statewide non-profit committed to the advancement, understanding and enforcement of fair housing and tenant/landlord laws. BNI provides impartial tenant/landlord guidance and promotes housing justice throughout the State of Maryland.
Mr. Strupp is a frequent speaker and serves on numerous local, state and national coalitions and committees focused on housing issues.Before becoming executive director of BNI, he was Manager of Systemic Investigations at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), where his work focused on initiatives designed to promote policies and practices that prevent housing discrimination and strengthen enforcement of fair housing and consumer protection laws.
Previously, Mr. Strupp served as the Director of Research and Policy with the Community Law Center (CLC) in Baltimore City, where he worked to combat predatory and deceptive real estate practices. Mr. Strupp was an early catalyst for improved enforcement and an advocate for new laws to reduce scams and protect consumers from dishonest mortgage lending and deceptive residential property transactions. He has served on numerous real estate workgroups and chaired a state-wide enforcement committee, bringing together regulators, public officials, advocates, funders and others concerned with residential real estate.
Mr. Strupp has served as a member of the Consumer Advisory Council of the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, and serves on the board of the Community Law Center. Mr. Strupp holds a JD degree and is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.
“ The Supreme Court’s ruling assures that fair housing laws will be enforced and discriminatory policies will be challenged, based on their impact on protected class individuals, and society in general”, said Robert J. Strupp, Executive Director of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI), one of the oldest non-profit fair housing agencies in the nation. Founded in 1959, almost a decade before the federal Fair Housing Act became law in 1968, BNI enforces and promotes fair housing and works for housing justice throughout Maryland.
The petitioner in the Texas case was the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The Inclusive Communities Project (ICP), an advocacy group that supports the integration of Dallas neighborhoods, argued that TDHCA practices resulted in tax credits for affordable housing being concentrated in low-income, minority neighborhoods rather than incentivizing development in higher income, more diverse neighborhoods.
Before today’s ruling 11 of the 13 federal Appellate Courts recognized that the disparate impact on minorities, although unintentional, nevertheless violated the Fair Housing Act.
“As current events in Baltimore, and around the country have shown, 150 years after the end of the Civil War, racial hatred continues to exist and policies and practices of government are essential to creating diverse, sustainable communities and equal housing opportunity envisioned by BNI’s founders, our nation’s forefathers, and everyone who works for and believes in housing justice” said Strupp.
#
BIO
Robert Strupp is Executive Director of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI). As Executive Director, Mr. Strupp oversees day-to-day operations of the organization, including strategic, programmatic and financial planning, working for housing justice through fair housing and tenant-landlord initiatives. One of the oldest fair housing agencies in the nation, BNI is a 55 year old statewide non-profit committed to the advancement, understanding and enforcement of fair housing and tenant/landlord laws. BNI provides impartial tenant/landlord guidance and promotes housing justice throughout the State of Maryland.
Mr. Strupp is a frequent speaker and serves on numerous local, state and national coalitions and committees focused on housing issues.Before becoming executive director of BNI, he was Manager of Systemic Investigations at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), where his work focused on initiatives designed to promote policies and practices that prevent housing discrimination and strengthen enforcement of fair housing and consumer protection laws.
Previously, Mr. Strupp served as the Director of Research and Policy with the Community Law Center (CLC) in Baltimore City, where he worked to combat predatory and deceptive real estate practices. Mr. Strupp was an early catalyst for improved enforcement and an advocate for new laws to reduce scams and protect consumers from dishonest mortgage lending and deceptive residential property transactions. He has served on numerous real estate workgroups and chaired a state-wide enforcement committee, bringing together regulators, public officials, advocates, funders and others concerned with residential real estate.
Mr. Strupp has served as a member of the Consumer Advisory Council of the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, and serves on the board of the Community Law Center. Mr. Strupp holds a JD degree and is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.