April is Fair Housing Month

April marks the passage of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, that made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful. 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.

We have been busy reflecting on housing discrimination and segregation, past and present. Staff across departments participated in a discussion about fair housing and racial equity. We invited the kids and family of our team members to the REACH main office at Gray’s Landing to introduce them to REACH’s work and talk about our mission. We packed 58 hygiene and toiletry bags for the REACH community that supports formerly homeless women at the Rose, toured headquarters, and took in some views from the Gray’s Landing roof. We also enjoyed breakout discussions exploring ideas about needs vs. wants and housing as a human right. 

To learn more about how Fair Housing is Equitable Housing, please take a look at the following resources:

WEBSITES
Fair Housing Council Of Oregon - Home - Fair Housing Council of Oregon (fhco.org)
Fair Housing Center of Washington (fhcwashington.org)

ARTICLES
Housing Discrimination thrives…
National Low-Income Housing Coalition-Racial Equity & Fair Housing

BOOKS
Race for Profit by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
American Apartheid by Douglas S. Massey & Nancy A. Denton
The Voucher Promise by Eva Rosen

VIDEOS
Housing Accommodations
Fair Housing Act: History and Examples of Violations