National Fair Housing Month commemorates the passage of the Fair Housing Act of April 1968. This landmark law prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.
Edward Brooke, who we wrote about last month, was one of its co-sponsors; be sure to read his story.
Fair Housing Month serves as a reminder that access to dignified, affordable housing isn’t a guarantee in the United States. It’s also a time to recommit to advancing equity in housing and acknowledge dignified housing as a human right.
Though it’s been 53 years since the Fair Housing Act was passed, housing discrimination still happens every day in our country. Individuals and families continue to be denied a place to call home because of the color of their skin, where they come from, who they love, or because landlords won’t allow persons with disabilities to keep assistance animals.
We say this a lot, but we’re in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. Safe, stable housing is more important than it ever has been. Housing stability improves education outcomes for children, job retention for adults, and health outcomes for all residents.
The fight for housing justice is far from over. Over the past year, 7,700 complaints alleging discrimination were submitted to HUD and its Fair Housing Assistance Program partner agencies. The highest number of complaints regarded discrimination on the basis of disability and race. This month, we’re taking the time to learn from our partners and other thought leaders in the space. We invite you to join us and:
- Register for National Fair Housing Training Academy (NFHTA) forum “LGBTQ+: Fostering Understanding and Strengthening Fair Housing for All” on April 14, 2021 @2:00pm EST.
- Register for CHAPA’s Fair Housing Month Symposium: Building the Framework for a More Equitable Massachusetts on Thursday, April 29, 2021 @1:30pm EST.
- Register for National Fair Housing Training Academy (NFHTA)’s Basics of Fair Housing training on May 3, 2021 @1:00pm EST
- Watch Segregated By Design
- Read Breaking the Stigma: Understanding Affordable Housing
At coUrbanize, we stand by our customers and communities who are organizing tirelessly to bring affordable housing – and zoning changes that would enrich affordable housing stock – to their neighborhoods. We’re committed to elevating the voices of more community members in these conversations so that all people can have access to quality housing and choose where they live.
