Agenda - Council - 08/27/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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have a greater effect on protected classes, a city may be in violation of the law. Where such a disparate effect is present, cities have an obligation to follow policies which accomplish the city's interests in the least discriminatory means available to further those interests. In addition, cities who are recipients or subrecipients of federal funds related to housing or urban development have a third obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. Briefly, affirmatively furthering fair housing refers to cities taking "significant actions to overcome historic patterns of segregation, achieve truly balanced and integrated living patterns, promote fair housing choice, and foster inclusive communities that are free from discrimination."6 Additional Legal Obligations In addition to the Fair Housing Act, cities also have to meet obligations under other civil rights laws. Minnesota Human Rights Act The Minnesota Human Rights Act, or MHRA, is the state's civil rights statute. Analogous to the federal Fair Housing Act, it has protections against discrimination in public and private housing, as well as lending and public accommodations. However, the MHRA adds additional protections for residents of Minnesota in a number of important ways. First, it adds the following additional protected classes: • Sexual Orientation • Marital Status • Status with Regard to Public Assistance • Creed 6 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Final Rule, Federal Register, Vol. 80, No. 136 (July 16, 2015) https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-16/pdf/2015-17032.pdf 7