James C. Whiteside

James Whiteside brings more than two decades of civil rights and fair housing expertise to his role as Co-Founder and General Counsel of Balanced Housing Solutions. Most notably, James served as Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for the Rocky Mountain region, where he led enforcement, compliance, and policy efforts across six states. In this senior leadership role, he guided complex investigations, oversaw systemic compliance reviews, and collaborated with stakeholders at every level of government to advance HUD’s mission.

Before his federal service, James was a civil rights litigator and clinical instructor at the John Marshall Fair Housing Legal Clinic in Chicago, representing clients in state and federal courts—including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. His career bridges law and policy, with deep experience in fair housing enforcement, accessibility compliance, program design, and strategic planning.

At Balanced Housing Solutions, James leads initiatives focused on helping developers, housing providers, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations meet their federal civil rights obligations. As General Counsel, he ensures that the firm’s consulting services align with best practices while maintaining a clear ethical separation between legal and non-legal activities.