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Introduction <br />All governmental jurisdictions need to pay attention to fair housing obligations. This <br />project is focused on fair housing obligations - and opportunities - for Twin Cities metro <br />area municipalities.1 A city's adoption of a fair housing policy meets a number of changing <br />needs and practical considerations that are already affecting and influencing city staff and <br />decisionmakers. For example: <br />• Our communities are changing. They continue to become more and more ethnically <br />and racially diverse, with people of color, immigrant families, and people with <br />disabilities constituting substantial portions of communities. This increases the <br />likelihood that fair housing issues <br />will surface. <br />• More and more people of color are <br />living in the suburbs, and the <br />percentage of those living in <br />poverty is increasing.2 <br />• Cities open themselves up to <br />liability if they do not understand <br />their obligations under fair <br />housing laws. <br />• Cities need to be prepared if unexpected situations arise calling for a fair housing <br />analysis or response. <br />• A fair housing policy allows cities to better serve their constituents who have fair <br />housing complaints. <br />1 This guide addresses the fair housing obligations of cities as a government body. If cities own or manage <br />property, there are other obligations as a housing provider not covered by this guide. <br />2 See the Brookings Institute article, "Poverty's Changing Geography Challenges Already Poor Neighborhoods," <br />https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2014/08/01/povertys-cha nging-geography-challenges-already- <br />poor-neighborhoods/ <br />4 <br />