On August 11, 2000, the White House issued Executive Order 13166, titled, Improving Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), requiring federal agencies to "to prepare a plan to improve access to...federally conducted programs and activities by eligible LEP persons.
HUD's plan would require any apartment owner that participates in federal housing programs, including accepting Section 8 vouchers, to translate vital documents and offer oral interpretation services free of charge to residents with limited English proficiency.
This letter to HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson objects to HUD's plan, noting that it is unrealistic to expect thousands of housing providers to undertake the duplicative effort of translating dozens of documents into numerous languages. Instead, HUD should provide translation and oral interpretation services directly to the LEP population and assume responsibility for the associated costs, ensuring accuracy of translated documents and ensuring the competency of interpreters.
