Federal housing officials have launched a formal investigation into the City of Boston’s housing policies, alleging that the city may be violating civil rights laws by prioritizing racial equity over race-neutral criteria. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated the inquiry on December 11, citing concerns that Boston’s current housing strategies could amount to racial discrimination.

At the center of the probe is a set of city initiatives designed to improve access to housing for communities of color, including the Housing Strategy 2025 and the Anti-Displacement Action Plan. According to HUD’s Office for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, these efforts—though intended to address longstanding disparities—may run afoul of federal civil rights protections.

HUD Secretary Scott Turner framed the investigation as a necessary step to ensure that housing policy complies with the law. “Boston’s current approach to housing appears to favor specific racial groups, which raises serious legal concerns,” Turner stated in a summary of the department’s position. “We are committed to ensuring that civil rights are upheld in all federally funded housing programs.”

The city has been given 10 business days to formally respond to the allegations. In a statement, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration reaffirmed its commitment to fair housing and indicated that the city will defend its policies. “We remain dedicated to correcting historical inequities in housing access and will fully cooperate with HUD while standing by our efforts to support underserved communities,” the mayor’s office said.

One of the key points under scrutiny is a reported statistic that 65% of city-sponsored homeownership opportunities have been directed toward households of color. While city officials argue that these policies are necessary to redress systemic discrimination, HUD’s inquiry suggests that such race-conscious measures might contravene existing civil rights statutes.

The Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, an advocacy organization, has also contributed data to the discussion. In a recent assessment, the center found that Black and Latinx residents experienced housing discrimination in 50% of test cases conducted across the city. These findings were cited as part of the rationale behind Boston’s race-conscious housing strategies.

Jacy Gaige, former director of HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity division, noted that the practices now under investigation were previously mandated by courts to remedy documented discrimination. “These policies didn’t arise in a vacuum,” Gaige emphasized. “They were developed in response to legal findings of inequity in the housing market.”

The investigation also draws from the city’s 2022 Fair Housing Assessment, which identified racial disparities in homeownership, rental access, and displacement rates. In response, Boston developed a comprehensive plan to address those gaps, culminating in the Housing Strategy 2025 and the Anti-Displacement Action Plan—both of which are now under federal review.

As of now, HUD’s investigation is ongoing. The City of Boston has until later this month to submit its response. In the meantime, housing advocates, legal experts, and government officials are watching closely, as the outcome could have far-reaching implications for how cities nationwide balance racial equity with federal civil rights mandates.