Recognizing Mrs. Lee Porter, the “Mother of Fair Housing”

Source: Amy Newman / northjersey.com

Throughout history, women have always been at the forefront of social change.

With March being Women’s History Month, individuals and organizations have been highlighting influential women and their impact on society. At The Fair Housing Center, we have been featuring women on our social media pages who have been influential in advancing racial equity, housing justice, and inclusive communities. Throughout history, women have always been at the forefront of social change. Take, for example, civil rights activist and community organizer Dorothy Gautreaux, who fought for housing equality in Chicago; or Alice Lipscomb, a fearless and committed organizer who united groups to fight against slumlords and racist housing policies in Philadelphia. The list of notable female changemakers goes on and on. However, we would be remiss if we did not also highlight the incredible work and legacy of Mrs. Lee Porter, affectionately known as the “Mother of Fair Housing.”

Who is the Mother of Fair Housing?

In 1965, three years before the Fair Housing Act became law, Lee Porter and her husband were initially denied housing in Bergen County, New Jersey. Nearly 50 years later, at the age of 91, Mrs. Porter recounted her experience in an interview, explaining that she and her husband were only shown houses that were available to people of color at that time, all of which were located in racially segregated neighborhoods. This type of discrimination, called steering, became illegal with the passage of the Fair Housing Act and remains illegal today.

Mrs. Porter took the advice of a friend and reached out to her local fair housing agency. She didn’t know it at the time, but this small step would greatly impact the trajectory of her life. As she continued her housing search, a volunteer from the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey accompanied Mrs. Porter, ensuring that she would be shown all available housing options and not be limited to certain neighborhoods because of her race. With the help of the Fair Housing Council, Mrs. Porter found the home of her dreams in just one day.

Porter’s experience prompted her to volunteer for the Fair Housing Council of Bergen County. This included volunteering as a tester and posing as a prospective buyer to uncover discrimination. After moving up the ranks in the organization, the now 97-year-old eventually took on the role of executive director at the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey – a role that she still holds today. Mrs. Porter admitted that she didn’t plan to lead the non-profit corporation for so long when she began to volunteer there in 1965. But somehow, she said, the years went by and the work never finished.

I said, ‘OK, I’ll take the job for one year,’ and then I took it for another year, and another year, and one year led to the next. And you just can’t quit, you have to finish what you started this year, and next year.

– Mrs. Lee Porter
Source: Lee Porter / northjersey.com

Housing advocates and those who have worked with Porter have noted the significant role she has played in advancing fair housing in Northern New Jersey and beyond. Lee Porter is said to have been influential in “lobbying and receiving more funding nationally for fair housing, for bringing landmark discrimination cases to court, and for simply helping people move to where they want to live.”

Shanna L. Smith, former president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, recalled how Porter pushed for federal funding for private fair housing agencies back in the 1980’s. It was because of Porter’s advocacy and tenacity that, in 1987, President Reagan signed into legislation a $3 million pilot program that would fund non-profit fair housing agencies. According to Smith, “That legislation alone was remarkable, because even now it has gone from a $3 million pilot program to a $42 [million] to $45 million program, which isn’t a lot in the federal budget, but it helped establish more fair housing groups.”

Honoring Mrs. Lee Porter’s Legacy

A good school means better education, a better education means a better salary, a better job, a better house, and the cycle goes around.

– Mrs. Lee Porter

Mrs. Lee Porter is a shining example of the type of passionate and committed fair housing advocates we all should strive to be. She understands the importance of fair housing and has been a vocal advocate in the movement for decades. Throughout her career, Porter has left a lasting impact on the fair housing world, and continues to do so. We know there is still more work to be done to make housing opportunities truly equitable for all. Let us look to Mrs. Lee Porter, the “Mother of Fair Housing,” for inspiration and motivation, as we work together to create a fairer and more equitable world.

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