NLIHC Submits Comment Letter Opposing Changes to "Equal Participation of Faith-Based Organizations" Rule

NLIHC submitted a comment letter on April 13 opposing HUD’s proposed changes to the “Equal Participation of Faith-Based Organizations” rule (see, Memo 2/18). The proposed changes would remove two important requirements for faith-based service providers: that organizations receiving federal funds take reasonable steps to refer the people they serve to alternative providers if requested and that they give beneficiaries written notice of their religious freedom rights. Among other proposed changes, HUD would expand the existing exemption that allows faith-based organizations that accept federal grants to discriminate in employment. The proposed changes put the interests of taxpayer-funded entities ahead of the needs of people seeking critical services. The HUD proposed rule is one of eight other similar rules intended to implement Executive Order (EO) 13831 issued on May 3, 2018. Read NLIHC’s comment letter on the proposed changes at: https://tinyurl.com/y97rvy6c