April is Fair Housing Month

Written By Chris Groza

As we commemorate the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, join our work to ensure all have equal access to a home in our Beloved Community, including marginalized groups such as migrants and asylum seekers and those formerly incarcerated.  

Fair Housing Month is observed annually in April to commemorate the passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. This legislation was enacted to prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status. As we observe Fair Housing Month, it is essential to recognize the significance of the Fair Housing Act and the ongoing fight for fair and equitable housing opportunities.

At Community Renewal Society, we believe that everyone deserves a safe, affordable, and stable home, and one of the key ways we pursue our mission of fighting racism and poverty is through our housing justice work.

Through our housing justice work, we aim to address the systemic barriers that prevent individuals and families from accessing safe and affordable housing. We believe that housing is a human right, and we work to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing options regardless of their race, income, or other factors. We do this through a variety of initiatives, including advocacy for policies that support fair housing practices, providing education and resources for tenants and landlords, and supporting the development of affordable housing in communities that need it most.

As we reflect on Fair Housing Month, we are reminded that the work of creating a more just and equitable society is ongoing. While the Fair Housing Act was a significant step forward in the fight for fair housing, discrimination and inequality still exist in housing today. At CRS, we remain committed to continuing this fight and advocating for policies and practices that promote fair and equitable housing opportunities for all, including migrants, asylum seekers and those formerly incarcerated.

Resources

  • If you feel you have experienced housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (incl. sexual orientation and gender identification), disability, and family status, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay), online at www.hud.gov/fairhousing, or your local fair housing organization.

Click here to learn more about the work CRS is doing in our Restoring Opportunities and Justice Reform issue area.

See Also
Traffic Stop Resources
Traffic Stop Resources

As CRS calls on transparent conversations about the Chicago Police Department’s use of excessive force in relationship to Black, Brown, and Indigenous people of our Beloved city, we share a list of traffic stop resources in partnership with the ACLU of Illinois.

Stop Killing Us
Stop Killing Us

In America, policing has almost become synonymous with Black death. The March 21 killing of Dexter Reed (26) in Chicago is yet another horrific example of the ways in which Black bodies are violently and fatally endangered when they come in contact with law enforcement. They can’t keep killing us. The excessive use of force must stop!

Why Does Second Chance Month Matter?
Why Does Second Chance Month Matter?

As April ushers in the change of spring, CRS proudly joins the nation in acknowledging Second Chance Month! This designation holds profound significance for us as we champion just reentry and equitable opportunities for all. 

Pretrial Fairness Act Implementation
Pretrial Fairness Act Implementation

Find articles recapping how the end of money bail began in courtrooms across communities, moving us toward racial, economic and social justice.

Accountability in Action
Accountability in Action

CRS believes that the significance of accountability cannot be overstated. As people of faith advocating for racial, economic and social justice, it is critical that we always hold our leaders accountable.

Take Action to Support the Pretrial Fairness Act
Take Action to Support the Pretrial Fairness Act

Once implemented on September 18, 2023, the Pretrial Fairness Act will end money bond. Read this blog article to learn ways you can get involved in making the justice system safer and more equitable.

Chicago Consent Decree Hearing
Chicago Consent Decree Hearing

On August 9, CRS and other community organizations and members shared powerful testimonies at the Public Hearing on Chicago’s Consent Decree policy on “stop and frisks.”

Do Not Dehumanize Our Youth
Do Not Dehumanize Our Youth

Mayor Johnson’s request to not dehumanize our youth challenges us to consider the language we use when speaking about our communities. We thank Mayor Johnson for lifting the humanity of our children.

Call-In to Demand That Sheriff Dart End the Cook County Jail Book Ban
Call-In to Demand That Sheriff Dart End the Cook County Jail Book Ban

On April 7, 2023, Sheriff Dart enacted a policy that limits incarcerated people to three books per person (including magazines but excluding religious texts). Read our blog to learn how you can take action against the book ban.

Fair Housing Month
Fair Housing Month

Fair Housing Month is observed annually in April to commemorate the passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1968, which prohibits discrimination in housing. CRS fights for fair and equitable housing opportunities through advocacy, education, and resources. Discrimination and inequality still exist in housing, and the fight for fair housing continues.

April is Second Chance Month
April is Second Chance Month

April is Second Chance Month. Learn more about how this initiative gives hope to those re-entering society from the criminal justice system.

 

Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter and get more stories like these delivered fresh to your inbox.

Chris Groza
Previous

Chicago City Key ID Program Draws Diverse Crowd at Haitian American Museum
Next

Resources in Support of Haiti