April marks Fair Housing Month which grew out of a celebration in 1969 marking the first anniversary of the law signed in 1968. Technically, it is Title VIII of The Civil Rights Act of 1968, which followed The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law itself didn’t easily reach that status. It was discussed, and debated but with no final law, until the death of Martin Luther King Jr. The push then came to make sure it became law. It was signed into law on April 11, 1968. Hence, the expansion into Fair Housing Month as we know it today in April.
Fair Housing emerged as a crucial measure and history shows that before its existence, people were routinely denied both the opportunity to own as well as financial lending to purchase. When this occurred, the landscape of real estate and the overall housing market was negatively affected. The side effect was less home ownership overall, which kept values down and segregated people not only demographically but also financially. When this occurred, fewer businesses were started, and hence fewer jobs were created, thus the entire economy was negatively affected over the long term.
Equality in homeownership positively impacts not only housing but also influences lending practices and the overall economy. The housing market is a large part of the economy and when people have a choice to live where they desire life improves, and businesses start, which leads to more employment opportunities, which leads to more people being able to own a home, thus home ownership increases and potentially so does a person’s financial stability.
Many types of prejudice exist in our world. To overcome those, it’s best to make every attempt to understand and show empathy to all people. Awareness of others is key. Listening to the true desire of someone without making any assumptions is the first place to start. Realtors are not only committed to listening but also promoting this practice to others inside and outside of the industry. Realtors are here to assist in those dreams and goals to our highest potential and serve their clients to help them build their real estate goals and dreams.
The Fair Housing Act focuses on eradicating discriminatory practices in housing transactions and focuses on groups who historically have either been denied home ownership or told where they could rent or purchase. Race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity should have no bearing on someone’s desire to purchase a home or its location. Realtors have been and continue to be advocates for the Fair Housing Act and the positive impact it brings. Happy Fair Housing Month this April and reach out to your Realtor today to find your home or reach your desired real estate goals.
