Fair Housing Act Celebrates 50 Years

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 protects people from discrimination when purchasing, renting, seeking housing assistance, getting a mortgage or engaging in other housing related activities (1). This groundbreaking legislation  it occurred during the Civil Right Movement,  and was signed into order by Lyndon B. Johnson a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.  The Fair Housing Act protects people of all races, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, and religious beliefs; it protects minorities from being discriminated against in housing affairs such as being refused to rent, sell housing, or being lied to about the availability of a house, and  mortgage lending. It’s been 50 years since its implementation, and it is regulated by HUD (Housing and Urban Development).

In 2016 over 28,181 people reported housing discrimination; 70% accounted for private fair housing organizations, 55%  experienced discrimination on the basis of disability, 19.5% due to racial bias, and 8.5% against families with children. of all that reported discrimination, 91% of the discrimination were at rental housing units.

On October 29th, Kent State in Stark County Ohio, held a 50th Anniversary to commemorate the Fair Housing Act. MLK’s daughter Rev. Bernice King attended the ceremony and spoke as a key note speaker(2). She spoke about her father’s  march to fight for fair housing  in Chicago 1966. She went on to speak about the climate of change today.  Read this article to read her full speech. Although it has been 50 years  since her father had lead the fight for equality, housing fairness is still an issue today. according to the National Fair Housing Alliance, there were 28,181 reports of Housing Discrimination;  70% accounted for private fair housing organizations, 55%  experienced discrimination on the basis of disability, 19.5% due to racial bias, and 8.5% against families with children. of all that reported discrimination, 91% of the discrimination were at rental housing units(4). The Fair Housing Act was the first step towards equal housing opportunities; in order for these housing issues to be resolved we must report instances of discrimination to HUD.  If one is experiencing housing Discrimination it is important to speak up. For more information about housing discrimination and how to report it visit www.HUD.gov

Sources: 1.2.3, 4