April is Fair Housing Month -- April 2017 marks the 49th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act. Each year REALTORS® recognize the significance of this event and reconfirm our commitment to upholding fair housing law as well as our commitment to offering equal professional service to all in their search for real property.
SCRAR has partnered with Grant County, Town of Silver City and the Southwest Council of Governments to proclaim April as Fair Housing Month. Tuesday, April 11th at 6 pm the Mayor and Town Council will read the first proclamation and Thursday, April 20th at 9 am the County Commissioners will read the second.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2017 theme is Fair Housing Equals Opportunity, highlighting equality in housing as a foundation upon which aspirations can be achieved and affirming the Fair Housing Act’s ongoing role in confronting housing discrimination. "Countdown to 50 years of fair housing in America with focus on protecting families with children."
Every type of discrimination robs individuals and families of their right to choose where to live, but one form of discrimination HUD is particularly active in addressing is discrimination against families with children, known as familial status discrimination. Each year, approximately 12 percent of complaints are filed with HUD alleging this type of discrimination. State and local fair housing groups that partner with HUD in fighting discrimination also describe familial status discrimination as being one of their priority areas, as anecdotal evidence shows that it is often a proxy for race discrimination. In addition to the loss of housing, this type of discrimination has a destabilizing effect that prevents families from positioning themselves in ways that enable the next generation to take advantage of all this country has to offer.
Last year, HUD and its Fair Housing Assistance Program partner agencies received more than 8,000 complaints alleging discrimination based on one or more of the Fair Housing Act’s seven protected classes: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
Each year SCRAR and it's fair housing partners organize local fair housing month articles, seminars, and public education events that promote the ideals of fair housing. People who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may file a complaint by contacting the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777. Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.
