TAKING THE LOCAL - THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, NEW FEDERALISM, AND FAIR HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION

This article explores how ''New Federalism'' under President Ronald W. Reagan manifested itself in the implementation of fair housing policy . We examine the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) and how it led to stale and local civil rights agencies playing an increasingly vita l role in implementing the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Relying on data p rovided by the U.S. Department of housing and Urban Development (HUD), we show that a significant number of fair housing complaints were shi fted from HUD to state and local agencies.