HUD Launches First Fair Housing App

HUD recently unveiled the first housing discrimination mobile application (app) for iPhone and iPad. Developed by HUD and Hewlett Packard, the app uses the latest technology to provide the public with a quick and easy way to learn about their housing rights and to file housing discrimination complaints.

HUD says the new app also will inform the housing industry about its responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. In addition, it will be an important tool to assist fair housing groups and other civil rights advocacy organizations in their efforts to help individuals pursue their housing rights and industry to educate their members on their responsibilities, according to HUD.

“Having this first fair housing mobile application equips people everywhere with the information they need to combat housing discrimination,” John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, said in a statement. “We are maximizing the latest technology to make the process for filing fair housing complaints faster and easier and arming our fair housing partners with the information they need to understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities.”

In addition to facilitating real-time delivery of housing discrimination complaints to HUD, the app can be used by individuals researching their housing rights after a natural disaster, when power outages make the iPhone/iPad one of the few ways to access the Internet.

The app also provides information about the fair housing complaint process, and allows the public to access HUD’s toll-free discrimination hotline and link to HUD’s fair housing Web site.

In conjunction with the fair housing mobile application, HUD has released adaptive mobile pages, which are in English and Spanish and allow Web content to display properly regardless of the brand of smartphone or tablet being used. In addition, the adaptive mobile pages allow individuals to complete and submit the fair housing complaint form in Spanish. HUD also plans to design a “Quick Response code” ad campaign, directing mobile users to the new adaptive pages.

HUD’s new housing discrimination app is available at the Apple App store. HUD also plans to release an Android version of the application, according to a recent posting on HUD’s blog, the HUDdle.

News of the app has sparked much discussion in the Coach’s LinkedIn discussion group—join the group here and let us know what you think!

Source: HUD

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