Fair Housing Month! Commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the Passage of the Fair Housing Act

DCH advocates for the adherence to fair housing practices and dismantling of discriminatory practices in Dallas. This month is Fair Housing Month and the US Department of Housing is commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act. To bring more awareness to housing equality we would like to share the background and context of the Fair Housing Act and the legacy of its’ passage. 

Established in 1968, The Fair Housing Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and made it illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, sex, familiar status, disability, and national origin. This act was signed days after the assasination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an effort to combat systemic racism and segregation. This context is incredibly important and symbolic for the legacy the act held for populations who experienced discriminatory housing practices. 

Segregation and redlining were commonplace practices that denied housing opportunities in certain neighborhoods based on ethnicity. Lack of housing to this day perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality, making it difficult for minority groups to build wealth and access the resources necessary to improve opportunities. The Fair Housing Act was a tool to dismantle these practices and promote equality in housing for ALL Americans. It represented the culmination of years of activism and advocacy by civil rights groups and individuals who fought for the right to fair and equal treatment in housing.

The Act also prohibited all aspects of discrimination from advertising and financing, to the provision of services and facilities, and resulted in the establishment of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Today HUD is still the regulatory agency that investigates complaints under the provisions of the Act and creates new policies to prevent modern discriminatory practices. Despite the progress made by civil rights leaders and advocacy groups supporting HUD,following the enactment of the Fair Housing Act, discrimination persists in many forms.  From modern redlining and to unequal access to resources and services, the need to support housing equality persists. 

We work towards housing equality and the creation and preservation of housing in neighborhoods that have been affected by discriminatory practices. If you would like to participate in commemorating Fair Housing Month, the HUD website has a number of resources for you to share with your audience as well. Linked Here are events, pamphlets, and more information on the importance of Fair Housing for our future.