October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an annual observance that raises awareness for issues surrounding domestic violence and those impacted by it. Domestic violence occurs when one person intentionally causes physical or emotional harm to a partner in an intimate relationship. This may include sexual assault, physical abuse, and/or psychological or emotional abuse. It is a […]
Criminal Records Present Lifelong Barriers One in three people in the United States has a criminal record. Unfortunately, for most people with a criminal record, life doesn’t just go “back to normal” after paying their debt to society. Having a record — even a misdemeanor — comes with thousands of potential collateral sanctions, or the “unanticipated, […]
By Austin Cummings, research associate at the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research Access to credit is the “underpinning of economic inclusion and wealth-building in the United States” (Mitchell and Franco, 2018: 5). Credit inequality contributes to the wealth gap and undermines fair access to housing. Communities of color throughout the United States have […]
It’s no secret that where you live affects your overall health outcomes. However, it might come as a surprise to some that the discriminatory practice of redlining — which has been outlawed for over 50 years — is still having very real effects on heart health. According to a recent study from University Hospitals, living […]
Stable housing is arguably the most foundational aspect in a person’s life. Unfortunately, for individuals who have had involvement with the criminal legal system, safe, fair, and affordable housing is often out of reach. For people of color, specifically Black and Hispanic Americans with criminal records, those barriers are experienced at disproportionate rates. These barriers […]
Across the country, LGBTQ+ Americans are more likely to experience housing discrimination and homelessness than those who are straight and cisgender. If you’ve ever attended a workshop by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), you’ve probably learned that – contrary to popular belief – being LGBTQ+ is not a risk factor for homelessness. […]
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have long faced discrimination in the United States. While this discrimination didn’t start with the COVID-19 pandemic, the hateful and xenophobic rhetoric that has circulated over the past two years certainly hasn’t helped. One area that we have seen an increase in discrimination against the AAPI community is in housing. […]
Your zip code is a better predictor of your health than your genetic code. Melody Goodman, assistant professor at Washington University There is no doubt that a person’s health outcomes are impacted by their housing. In many cases, the physical structure of a person’s home is actively making them sick and causing health problems. Aging homes […]
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. This month can be celebrated in a number of ways, including getting involved with fair housing advocacy efforts in your community, committing to learning more about fair […]
Last month on our blog, we talked about the dangers of whitewashing history. This month, we’re discussing the unfortunate reality of Black homeowners who have resorted to whitewashing their homes in order to receive a fair appraisal estimate, as we shed light on bias in the real estate appraisal industry. What is appraisal discrimination? For […]
February marks the start of Black History Month — a time to honor the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history. This history should be studied and remembered, not only this month, but year-round. For civil rights advocates, understanding American history — which includes Black history — is a necessary part of social […]
The settlement will directly and immediately benefit the communities of color throughout the Greater Cleveland region and nationwide hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis and its aftermath. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2022, Media Contact: Carrie Pleasants | 216-361-9240, x204 | cpleasants@thehousingcenter.org Cleveland, OH — Today, the Housing Research & Advocacy Center dba Fair Housing […]
What’s in a name? Discrimination, for some. Studies have shown that, even with the same qualifications, people with “Black-sounding” names — like Jamal or Lakisha — are less likely to be considered for a job, compared with applicants with “white-sounding” names — like Emily or Greg. However, employers are not the only ones engaging in […]
Between all of the national and global observances, it can seem like every day is some sort of holiday. In the month of December alone, there are 16 month-long observances and 14 religious holidays (not to mention days like Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day on December 18). But one of the lesser […]
Medical providers have an important role to play in patients’ access to fair housing. And yes, you read that right. Although healthcare and housing may seem like two completely separate worlds, the two industries have more intersections than one might think. For starters, when people have stable housing, they are more likely to have better […]
