A new HUD rule announced today requires municipalities that receive federal housing funds to use new agency-provided tools to demonstrate going forward that their housing policies don’t promote racial segregation.

Under the long-awaited Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, HUD will provide maps and data on historic segregation that cities will need to use to assess their progress in reducing segregation, increasing housing choice and promoting inclusivity.

The AFFH rule change follows the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the Fair Housing Act, ... Without disparate impact, only overtly discriminatory practices — like refusing to rent to a person based on race or religion — would trigger enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. But most housing discrimination, like policies that cluster affordable housing in already poor neighborhoods, is far less glaring. And research shows that where people live can affect everything from education to future earnings.