April is Fair Housing Month! The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, and familial status. This year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) commemorates the 56th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act with the theme of “Fair Housing: The ‘Act’ in Action.” Where we live is more than just an address. Everyone thrives in a vibrant community. Fair Housing Month signifies a recommitment to advancing equitable opportunities and expanding homeownership.
“Now, with this bill, the voice of justice speaks again. It proclaims that fair housing for all – all human beings who live in this country – is now a part of the American way of life.”
-President Lyndon Johnson, The Fair Housing Act of 1968
The first step to being a fair housing advocate is doing your homework. Before you can get into the nitty-gritty of advocacy work, it’s important that you first educate yourself on the history of discrimination, barriers to fair housing, and how inequality continues to persist, even today. Through this, you will have a better understanding of what needs to be done to achieve housing equity — and how you can help support that goal.
HUD and Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity (HEO) are continuously developing technical assistance materials, resources, and training to educate housing consumers and providers on their fair housing rights and responsibilities. You can view all these resources on the HUD website at Fair Housing Month | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is another resource that leads the fair housing movement. NFHA works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities through its education and outreach, member services, public policy, advocacy, housing and community development, tech equity, enforcement, and consulting and compliance programs.
Core Bank’s team of lenders are committed to helping you with the mortgage process to help you achieve your dreams, whether you’re ready to buy, build or refinance your home. Contact someone from our team and apply today!