To effectively develop meaningful community participation, particularly in low-income and communities of color, it is essential to build on the foundational work established by the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. This rule promotes substantial community engagement by linking it directly to public-sector allocation decisions, addressing the power and knowledge imbalances between residents and other stakeholders. Foundations and entities have supported this by backing community groups and holding intermediaries accountable for fostering high-quality engagement. It is crucial for local leaders to carefully examine how such participation advances community interests and to develop local capacity while leveraging national support. The AFFH mandate provides residents with the opportunity to actively participate in planning processes involving substantial federal funding, expecting these processes to address their concerns and use data effectively. By leveraging the AFFH data and examples of effective community engagement from past assessments, residents and community representatives can enhance their participation. While the long-term impact of the AFFH rule remains to be fully seen, early indications suggest it represents a promising approach that can be refined over time. The ongoing challenge is to address the racial equity issues central to the Fair Housing Act, and the AFFH rule offers a chance to incorporate equitable mixed-income strategies into broader efforts to meet these challenges. Both the AFFH rule and the pursuit of racial equity are crucial for advancing inclusive and equitable planning.

https://furmancenter.org/files/ORegan.Zimmerman.Affirmatively_Furthering_Fair_Housing.2019.pdf