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 […]
For years now, local housing advocates have been stressing the importance of increased renter rights, like Source of Income protections and Pay to Stay legislation. As Cleveland prepares to elect a new Mayor, expanding renter rights in the City might finally be a possibility. Renters make up 60% of Cleveland households, yet the City is […]
Want to know your rights, but on the fence about online learning? Rest assured – we’ve put together a list of the top ten reasons you should enroll in an online fair housing course right now. 1. It’s 100% free. Have you ever seen a course that you would take in a heartbeat, if it […]
Across the U.S., more than 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons each year. Unfortunately, barriers to housing make it difficult — and sometimes nearly impossible — for many returning citizens to find a home to return to. But local reentry housing advocates, as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban […]
Meet Allison Kretz, one of the newest Fair Housing Center Board Members. We’re thrilled to welcome Allison to the Board of Directors. Check out our Q&A to learn why she got involved with the Fair Housing Center! How long have you been a board member for the Fair Housing Center?A: I am starting my first term […]
The Biden administration is reinstating two key fair housing regulations — the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule and the 2013 Disparate Impact rule. Both rules were originally put in place under the Obama administration, and in a harmful move, later gutted by the Trump administration. Understanding the Rules The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, […]
What is Fair Housing Month? Following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and nationwide civil unrest, The Civil Rights Act of 1968 — also known as the Fair Housing Act — was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968. The act expanded on previous laws and prohibited […]
Starting this month, Cleveland landlords are being required to test their homes for lead. Rental property owners in the City must obtain a Lead Safe Certification to prove that their units are safe from lead hazards. This comes after Cleveland City Council passed a new lead-safe ordinance, making lead safety a priority in the City. […]
The City of Cleveland is closer than ever to protecting renters from discrimination based on their source of income, or SOI. City Council may soon consider amending Cleveland’s fair housing law to ban landlords from rejecting tenants simply because they use a housing voucher to pay rent. Councilman Kerry McCormack says he expects to introduce Cleveland’s […]
