42 U.S.C. § 3609
Education and conciliation; conferences and consultations; reports (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (42 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
Immediately after , the Secretary shall commence such educational and conciliatory activities as in his judgment will further the purposes of this subchapter. He shall call conferences of persons in the housing industry and other interested parties to acquaint them with the provisions of this subchapter and his suggested means of implementing it, and shall endeavor with their advice to work out programs of voluntary compliance and of enforcement. He may pay per diem, travel, and transportation expenses for persons attending such conferences as provided in . He shall consult with State and local officials and other interested parties to learn the extent, if any, to which housing discrimination exists in their State or locality, and whether and how State or local enforcement programs might be utilized to combat such discrimination in connection with or in place of, the Secretary’s enforcement of this subchapter. The Secretary shall issue reports on such conferences and consultations as he deems appropriate.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 3609, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is directed to carry out educational and conciliatory efforts aimed at advancing fair housing goals. This includes convening conferences with housing industry participants and other stakeholders to explain the law and explore voluntary compliance strategies, as well as consulting with state and local officials to understand the scope of housing discrimination and the potential role of local enforcement mechanisms. The Secretary is also authorized to cover certain travel and per diem costs for conference attendees and to publish reports summarizing these outreach and consultation activities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under the federal Fair Housing Act should be aware that 42 U.S.C. § 3609 establishes an active federal outreach framework designed to promote voluntary compliance across the housing industry. Compliant operators generally stay informed about guidance, programs, and reports that emerge from HUD-convened conferences held under this provision, as these materials often clarify how the agency interprets and expects the industry to implement fair housing requirements. Engaging with HUD educational initiatives and industry conferences organized under § 3609 is one way operators typically demonstrate good-faith efforts toward compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
42 U.S.C. § 3609 establishes that the federal government has an ongoing obligation to educate the public and housing industry about fair housing rights and to pursue voluntary compliance, which forms part of the broader enforcement infrastructure protecting tenants from housing discrimination. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may find that reports and guidance issued under § 3609 help clarify how HUD interprets the law and what remedies the agency pursues. General enforcement paths available to tenants include filing a complaint with HUD, raising a fair housing violation as a defense in relevant proceedings, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for information about state and local programs that may operate alongside federal enforcement under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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