Feds accuse Boston of racial discrimination in housing programs
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has initiated an investigation into the city of Boston, saying in a letter to city officials that programs intended to boost racial equity in housing are discriminatory.
Craig Trainor, assistant secretary of fair housing and equal opportunity for HUD, condemned Boston's "racialist ambitions" in the letter, saying housing programs targeted largely at communities of color were discriminatory.
Under President Donald Trump's administration, the federal government has cracked down on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs around the country, often calling them out as discriminatory. Trainor wrote that discrimination "in the name of" DEI was a violation of civil rights.
"At your office's direction, however, City officials have set out to smuggle 'racial equity into every layer of operations in City government,'" he wrote, quoting from the city's Equity and Inclusion Cabinet website . "To this dubious end, the City of Boston ... has developed and intends to implement discriminatory housing policies in violation of the Fair Housing Act."
In particular, Trainor called out programs such as homebuyer assistance, which is not awarded based on race but for which the city has conducted extensive outreach to families of color.
He also noted the "Anti-Displacement Action Plan" released in September, which outlines measures the city can take to prevent resident displacement, saying it "appears to revive government-sponsored redlining." The plan includes a "Displacement Risk Map" which includes racial or ethnic makeup and English fluency as two of 18 criteria for measuring the risk of displacement in different areas of Boston.
"The City has been very public about its intention to discriminate on the basis of race, while essentially claiming that social justice and racial equity concerns purify its intentions," he wrote.
A city spokesperson denounced the letter and investigation Friday morning.
"Boston will never abandon our commitment to fair and affordable housing, and we will defend our progress to keep Bostonians in their homes against these unhinged attacks from Washington," they said.
The letter said Boston officials would receive official requests for information within 10 business days and following the investigation, HUD may file a discrimination complaint against the city.
Boston Politics
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