Objectives. To successfully perform the services described in Section I above, the Contractor must satisfy the following objectives: • Develop an AI for MSHDA based on an analysis of current impediments to fair housing choice that is supported by the most recent and relevant data and information, which may or may not have been included in MSHDA’s original 2016 analysis. • Examine the legacy of housing discrimination in the state, referencing established timeline narratives and information created or gathered by other entities, such as the State’s Historic Preservation Office. Particular attention should be paid to past practices that may affect fair housing choice today. • Compile a summary of additional local protections to determine their growing potential to be implemented statewide (e.g., criminal background, source of income). • Comply with HUD's Consolidated Planning requirements for affirmatively furthering fair housing, guidance, and materials. • Implement an inclusive process to ensure that the perspectives of the housing ecosystem, public sector, affected industry professionals, and members of each protected class are considered during the development of the AI. • Assist MSHDA in establishing an advisory group or coordinating with existing advisory groups to facilitate the development and implementation of the AI recommendations in accordance with the Statewide Housing Plan. • Develop a feedback and outreach strategy that will include engagement with the Regional Housing Partnerships. This will include attending meetings in every region. • Organize the report so that the identified impediments can be grouped geographically according to the 15 regions of the Regional Housing Partnerships. • Link the data found in the ALICE report to understand the financial hardships experienced by Michiganders. • Utilize the Michigan Zoning Atlas created by the Michigan Association of Planning to examine zoning laws and codes. • Incorporate feedback from MSHDA staff utilizing surveys, feedback sessions, and any other appropriate method. • Analyze MSHDA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and identify opportunities to coordinate efforts. • Identification of progress made toward the recommendations of the previous AI, which are: o “Reinvigorating public education efforts around fair housing rights and concerns.” o “Building a broader institutional awareness around state government’s responsibility for AFFH, particularly by identifying and addressing structural barriers to fair housing choice.” o “Create the institutional infrastructure that will prepare the state to fully comply with the more robust requirements of the AFFH process, including broader participation by departments and agencies beyond simply MSHDA and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (“MEDC”) as the primary administrators of HUD funding.” • Identify new actions that can be taken by either/both state and local municipalities to overcome the effects of any identified fair housing impediments. • Recommend effective record-keeping methods to document actions taken by either/both the state and local municipalities to overcome the effect of any identified fair housing impediments. • Review state and local laws, regulations and administrative policies, procedures and practices and an assessment of how these laws, regulations, policies, procedures and practices affect the location, availability, affordability, condition and accessibility of housing in the non-entitled communities. • Assess the conditions, both private and public, affecting fair housing choice for all federal and State of Michigan protected classes. • Utilize the State of Michigan Housing Data Portal to access critical housing and community data to better understand local housing needs and opportunities. • Determine if the state has adequate levels of accurate, and current data to understand and document the fair housing impediments within their AI. This determination will be done in conjunction with MSHDA’s Office of Market Research. • Ensure that the appropriate accessibility measures are taken, including but not limited to community engagement, solicitation of feedback, and creation of materials. All efforts should align with MSHDA Accessibility standards. • Incorporate data and information collected from the fair housing centers of Michigan to better understand trends and current fair housing concerns. • Incorporate relevant data found in the Statewide Housing Plan, the Michigan Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, or other pertinent information. • Coordinate with the administrators of State of Michigan Housing Data Portal to ensure that the data and recommendations from the AI are appropriately included in this tool. are included in this tool. • Public facing communications and surveys should be translated into Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, and Chinese. • Ensure that all public facing documents and meetings adhere to the State of Michigan accessibility and language access standards. • Coordinate activities and project timeline with MSHDA Annual Action Planning process. This draft of the most recent Action Plan will provide guidance.
