Analysis: HUD processed less than 5 percent of all housing discrimination complaints in 2017

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) processed less than 5 percent of housing discrimination complaints last year, according to a new report from the liberal-leaning National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA).

In 2017, the number of reported housing discrimination complaints increased slightly to 28,843, according to the report. Of these, HUD processed 1,311.

{mosads}State and local Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies, which get funding from HUD, processed another 6,896 cases, according to the report.

Last month, HUD awarded $37 million to more than 150 national and local housing organizations tasked with fighting housing discrimination.  

Private and non-profit fair housing organizations processed more than 71 percent of complaints last year.

The report said that even though the number of complaints has increased, the number of complaints HUD and FHAP processed decreased between 2016 and 2017.

“It has been 50 years, and the Fair Housing Act still has not been fully implemented. We cannot build a thriving society as long as our nation is plagued by discrimination, segregation, and severe economic inequality,” said Lisa Rice, president and CEO of NFHA.

NFHA found that the most common types of complaints in 2017 were based on disability, race and family status.

—Updated at 1:34 p.m.