Urban Planning and Housing: An Assessment of Fair Housing Laws Providing Protective Status to Veterans

Abstract

University of Washington Abstract Urban Planning and Housing: An Assessment of Fair Housing Laws Providing Protective Status to Veterans Lisa Carolyn Davidson Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Research Professor Emeritus Fredrick Wagner Department of Urban Design and Planning This thesis examines the housing element of urban planning, but it does not address all aspects of housing. It focuses on housing one segment of the population: veterans. Specifically, it evaluates the barriers to housing veterans, the laws that are in place to ensure that veterans are able to access housing, and what protections exist for veterans who experience housing discrimination. It provides a historical synopsis of federal fair housing laws and an assessment of the five states that have amended their fair housing laws to provide protection from housing discrimination for military members and veterans. Each state assessment includes a summary of the legislative action that amended the law, the catalyst for inclusion in the state law, the definition of veteran included in the law, and information regarding implementation of the law such as oversight agencies, the frequency of complaints, and programs and actions taken to support the law. A matrix is also included that identifies the fair housing law for every state, the included protected classes, and the online resource for the law.