[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 7, Volume 15]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 7CFR3560.2]



[Page 470-471]

 

                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE

 

     CHAPTER XXXV--RURAL HOUSING SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 

PART 3560_DIRECT MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING LOANS AND GRANTS--Table of Contents

 

              Subpart A_General Provisions and Definitions

 

Sec. 3560.2  Civil rights.



    (a) As per the Fair Housing Act, as amended and section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, all actions taken by recipients of loans and 

grants will be conducted without regard to race, color, religion, sex, 

familial status, national origin, age, or disability. These actions 

include any actions in the sale, rental, or advertising of the 

dwellings, in the provision of brokerage services, or in residential 

real estate transactions involving Rural Housing Service (RHS) 

assistance. It is unlawful for a borrower or grantee or an agent of a 

borrower or grantee:

    (1) To refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, 

practices, or services that would provide a person with a disability an 

opportunity to use or continue to use a dwelling unit and all public and 

common use areas; or

    (2) To refuse to provide a reasonable accommodation at the 

borrower's expense that would not cause an undue financial or 

administrative burden, or to refuse to allow an individual with a 

disability to make reasonable modifications to the unit at their own 

expense with the understanding that the owner may require the tenant to 

return



[[Page 471]]



the unit to its original condition when the unit is vacated by the 

tenant making the modifications (see Sec. 3560.104(c)).

    (b) Borrowers and grantees must take reasonable steps to ensure that 

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons receive the language 

assistance necessary to afford them meaningful access to USDA programs 

and activities, free of charge. Failure to ensure that LEP persons can 

effectively participate in or benefit from federally-assisted programs 

and activities may violate the prohibition under Title VI of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d and Title VI regulations against 

national origin discrimination. USDA has issued guidance to clarify the 

responsibilities of recipients and subrecipients who receive financial 

assistance from USDA and to assist them in fulfilling their 

responsibilities to LEP persons under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, 

as amended, and implementing regulations.

    (c) Any tenant/member or prospective tenant seeking occupancy in or 

use of facilities financed by the Agency who believes he or she is being 

discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, familial 

status, national origin, or disability may file a complaint in person 

with, or by mail to the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Office of 

Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence 

Avenue, Washington, DC 20410. Complaints received by Agency employees 

must be directed to the National Office Civil Rights staff through the 

State Civil Rights Manager/Coordinator.

    (d) Borrowers or grantees that fail to comply with the requirements 

of federal civil rights requirements are subject to sanctions authorized 

by law. The following are the major civil rights laws affecting 

multifamily housing loan and grant programs:

    (1) Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

    (2) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

    (3) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

    (4) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

    (5) Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

    (6) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.