In the late 1960s, America was in a state of chaos. The Civil Rights Movement was at its peak, and people were fighting for equality across all walks of life. This included the right to fair housing. On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law. This act hindered discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a great win for the Civil Rights Movement, and it completely changed the face of American living forever. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of the Fair Housing Act and its effects on American renters.
Civil Rights and Fair Housing
The Fair Housing Act was a direct response to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the continuous fight for equality that was being fought across the country. That act disallowed discrimination in public places though did not consider and address discrimination in housing. This left some black Americans inhabiting and living in unsatisfactory housing conditions. The Kerner Commission, studying the civil disorders and causes of riots in US Cities in 1967, wrote, “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.”
Being aware that the federal government had a responsibility to address housing inequality, Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts and Representative John Conyers of Michigan sponsored an act that would instantly bar housing discrimination. On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The Fair Housing Act was passed by Congress on April 11, 1968, and was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on the same day.
The Fair Housing Act took into account and addressed housing inequality by making it illegal to discriminate against renters based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It additionally put together the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), which works to ward off housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities. FHEO is also responsible for enforcing the act.
The Impact of Fair Housing
The effects of the Fair Housing Act were speedy and wide-ranging. It opened up previously segregated neighborhoods to minorities. It likewise made it worry-free for families of all income levels to have safe and affordable housing. The act has been acknowledged to reduce poverty and improve educational outcomes for children staying in low-income households.
The Fair Housing Act has been amended several times since it was first passed. The latest amendment, passed in 1988, expanded the definition of “family” to include unmarried couples and people with disabilities. It also rightly strengthened the enforcement provisions of the act.
The Fair Housing Act and You
The Fair Housing Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history. It has helped form a more equal and just society by assuring everyone has equal access to safe and affordable housing. If you’re a renter in the United States, it’s essential to ascertain your rights under the Fair Housing Act. Some of the helpful rights the Fair Housing Act protects constitute:
- The right to choose a housing option without discrimination
- The right to inhabit a safe and more than acceptable housing environment
- The right to fair treatment during the entire housing search process
- The right to not be disapproved of housing based on your income
If you sense like you’ve been discriminated against, you can certainly file a complaint with HUD under the FHEO. You can moreover communicate with a fair housing organization in your area for guidance and help.
To best protect your rights, it’s, in like manner, relevant to work with landlords and property managers who ascertain and follow fair housing laws. Real Property Management Excelled has a long history of commitment to fair housing. Browse our listings online to spot fine, quality rental homes in Kent.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
