What is Fair Housing Month?

Following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and nationwide civil unrest, The Civil Rights Act of 1968 — also known as the Fair Housing Act — was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968. The act expanded on previous laws and prohibited discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on the bases of race, color, national origin, and religion. Sex became a protected class in 1974, and protections for families with children and people with disabilities were later added in 1988.

Each April, Fair Housing Month is celebrated to reaffirm our commitment to ending housing discrimination and to commemorate the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968. Watch the video below to learn more about Fair Housing Month.

Want to get involved, but not sure where to start? Here are three steps you can take to become a better fair housing advocate:

1. Learn.

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.

To help you get started, the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research has put together a 2021 Fair Housing Reading List. The list contains 50 must-read titles that cover important topics relating to fair housing, inequality, and discrimination. From children’s books celebrating diversity to more advanced reading detailing the history of racist ideas in America, there’s something on the list for everyone in the family.

Consider checking out these titles at your local libraries and book stores. Many locations offer in-person browsing, as well as contactless alternatives, such as digital access, online ordering, and curbside pick-up. You can also borrow these books from The Fair Housing Center’s in-office library when it re-opens. Check out the websites listed below for more information on how to get your hands on these books today:

• Ohio Digital Library
• CLEVNET
• Cuyahoga County Library
• Cleveland Public Library
• Grafton Public Library
• Loganberry Books
• Mac’s Backs

2. Advocate.

If you’re looking to get more involved in promoting fair housing in your own community, there are likely advocacy groups that are already doing the work in your area. Find them and join them in the effort to promote inclusive communities. In the Greater Cleveland area, the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research has been working for over 35 years to protect and expand fair housing rights, eliminate housing segregation, and promote integrated communities. Spread the word with your circle, and if someone you know experiences housing discrimination, refer them to The Fair Housing Center for assistance.

The Fair Housing Center works to advocate for more equitable housing policies at the federal, state, and local levels. In addition to enforcing existing fair housing protections, The Fair Housing Center pushes for the continued expansion of protections. For instance, some current advocacy efforts include promoting source of income protections, lead-safe housing, and protections for folks who have had past involvement with the justice system. Community members are welcome and encouraged to join in these advocacy efforts by helping to highlight these issues.

To stay up-to-date with emerging issues, news, and fair housing advocacy initiatives, subscribe to The Fair Housing Center’s e-newsletter.

3. Support.

While your support doesn’t need to be monetary to be impactful, financial contributions undoubtedly help organizations to continue their work. Donations from supporters help The Fair Housing Center team to continue advocating for much-needed fair housing protections, educating consumers about their rights under fair housing law, and researching how communities can eliminate barriers to housing choice.

If you are in a position to give, you can support fair housing enforcement, advocacy, research, and education at thehousingcenter.org/give.

No matter how you show your support for fair housing, you can make a difference. Use the hashtags #CLEFairHousingMonth and #FairHousingMonth to join the conversation and share how you’re celebrating Fair Housing Month.