Fair Housing

Munsch Hardt represents affordable housing developers who encounter discriminatory planning, zoning and approval processes that often arise from not-in-my-backyard attitudes of local homeowners, politicians and city/county officials. In our experience, the mere prospect of a federal fair housing lawsuit can be enough to persuade officials to follow fair housing laws. We also counsel clients about how to preserve their rights throughout the process and assist with negotiations of zoning rights and other approvals needed to construct affordable housing.

• Representation of a developer of four affordable housing communities in overturning a moratorium on multifamily construction in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
• Securing rezoning to permit a seniors' independent living development in a Dallas, Texas suburb that had not previously allowed affordable housing.
• Settling a fair housing lawsuit against a Dallas, Texas suburb that denied plat approval and rezoned a multifamily site.
• Securing support letters from a South Texas county needed for low income housing tax credit applications after significant homeowner and political opposition.
• Securing zoning reconfiguration from a North Texas city in the face of a significant homeowner and city councilman opposition.