Equal Access and Gender Identity Rule
Purpose:  The purpose of this policy is to ensure Wisconsin Rapids Family Center is compliant with HUD’s final rule, 24 CFR Part 5, Equal Access in Accordance with and Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs.  
Definitions:  
Gender identity:  means the gender with which a person identifies, regardless of the sex assigned to that person at birth and regardless of the person’s perceived gender identity.  
Perceived gender identity:  means the gender with which a person is perceived to identify based on that person’s appearance, behavior, expression, other gender-related characteristics, or sex assigned at to the individual at birth or identified in documents.
Sexual orientation:  means one’s emotional or physical attraction to the same and/or opposite sex (e.g. homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bi-sexuality)
Policy: In accordance with the HUD’s Final Rule, housing programs must be made available to individuals and families without regard to actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.  The Final Rule also prohibits recipients of HUD funds from inquiring about sexual orientation or gender identity to determine eligibility for programs, benefits, housing or services.
Procedures:
Accommodations should be made based on the individual’s gender identity.  Victims of domestic violence of all genders and gender identities are sheltered on site.
If an individual feels they have been discriminated against based on their gender or gender identity, they can file a Grievance (C-4201 Client Grievance), or report the discrimination following the agency’s Non-Discrimination in Services Policy (C-7204), or report any harassment following the C-7301 Harassment Policy.
An individual’s transgender status should be kept confidential, unless they give permission to share this information.  

Encourage the individual to evaluate their own safety within the shelter.  Staff will accommodate reasonable requests regarding safety.
Wisconsin Rapids Family Center will use appropriate, inclusive language in communications, publications, trainings, personnel handbooks and other policy documents to affirm Wisconsin Rapids Family Center’s commitment to serving all eligible clients in adherence with the HUD Equal Access Rule.  
Wisconsin Rapids Family Center will ensure all project participants understand their rights to equal access, including privacy rights and the implication of releasing information.