April is Fair Housing Month! This year, we’re celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. This landmark act set the blueprint of fair practice and equal opportunity throughout the entire real estate industry. As real estate professionals, we are responsible for upholding this policy and ensuring housing is a reality for everyone.
While we continue our commitment to provide education and resources throughout the year, Fair Housing Month signifies a time to refuel and recommit to advancing homeownership.
Every week in the month of April, come back to learn information about fair housing, check out videos to watch and get content to share on your social media pages!
Also, review the protected classes by downloading the graphic to the right!
Week One of Fair Housing Month
Did You Know…?
The landmark Fair Housing Act of 1968 was signed on April 11, 1968, which is why we celebrate Fair Housing Month in April! This act prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin and sex. Originally intended as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the bill was stalled but finally quickly passed in the days after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Ultimately, the Fair Housing Act stands as one of the great legislative achievement of the civil rights era. To learn more about the history of Fair Housing, click here.
Learn About It
How to Navigate Illinois’ Newest Protected Class: Source of Income Event
As of Jan. 1. 2023, source of income (SOI) has been added to the list of statewide protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act. The new state law bans discrimination in housing based on the source of income, including housing choice vouchers. While the state law does not change Chicago’s existing protection on SOI, it confirms the need to better understand the law and ensure compliance of housing providers.
What does this mean for your business? Find out during our virtual event on Thursday, April 6. We will openly discuss all that you need to know with our expert panel! Click here to register today.
REALTORS® Real Estate School Fair Housing Course
Get three hours of CE credit with our Fair Housing Course taking place on Saturday, April 8th! The best way to ensure your business practices comply with fair housing laws is to take this class, which breaks down proper documentation and covers critical professional service habits. During this class, you’ll learn:
- Details about the discriminatory housing practices under the Fair Housing Act and its amendments.
- What predatory lending is, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
- The difference between the Americans with Disabilities Act with the Fair Housing Act.
- How the Section 8 Programs work.
- The Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on discriminatory advertising.
Register here.
Watch It
Post It
REALTORS® believe Fair Housing is worth fighting for. Check out NAR’s consumer advertising campaign video, downloadable social media content and more.
Week Two of Fair Housing Month
Did You Know…?
The Code of Ethics & Fair Housing
The REALTOR® Code of Ethics addresses fair housing under Article 10 stating, in summary, “REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services, shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate, shall not discriminate in their real estate employment practices, to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”
Most recently, Article 10, Standard of Practice 10-5 was amended to say, “REALTORS® must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets or slurs based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Learn more about this addition to the 2022 Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice.
Housing Discrimination
Housing discrimination can take many forms. Here are some real examples of housing discrimination and how you should respond.
Source of Income
The new Illinois law bans discrimination in housing based on source of income, including housing choice vouchers. Property owners who choose not to accept legal source of income could face a Fair Housing violation issued by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). Click here for more information, including our FAQ’s.
Disability & Familial Classes
In 1988, 20 years after the Fair Housing Act passed, disability and familial status were added as federal protective classes. Disability is a condition which substantially limits at least one major life activity, such as walking, hearing, seeing, working, communicating, or learning. Learn about disability rights in housing here.
PAVE Action Plan
Recent studies report that appraised value assessments that are below the contract price in:
- 15.4% of majority Latino neighborhoods
- 12.5% of majority-Black neighborhoods
- 7.4% of predominantly white neighborhoods
The difference is more than doubled for communities of color compared to predominately white communities.
Fair appraisals are key to creating and sustaining generational wealth. Appraisal bias based on race has been documented and shown to impact the loss of equity in a home and its surrounding communities.
In response, President Biden announced the Action Plan to Advance Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity, or the PAVE Action Plan. This serves as the blueprint for how all Americans can benefit fairly from the equity built through homeownership. The PAVE Action Plan:
- Outlines the historical role of racism in the valuation of residential property
- Examines the various forms of bias that can appear in residential property valuation practices
- Describes how government and industry stakeholders will advance equity through concrete actions and recommendations
Learn About It
Bridge the Gap Now with Intentional Inclusion 2.0
Digital marketing has created an opportunity to promote not only your business as REALTORS®, but it also provides a window to ethically promote fair housing.
This course is an engaging learning experience that will help you develop strategies in digital marketing through the lens of self-examination, open communication and the intentional promotion of inclusivity, diversity and equity. Plus, this course counts towards your Ethics Training requirement!
Learn more and keep an eye out for this course in fall 2023!
REALTORS® Real Estate School Reasonable Accommodations Course
Take the Reasonable Accommodations self paced course to understand the rights and obligations of persons with disabilities and housing providers under the Act relating to reasonable accommodations.
Watch It
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April 11 marks the 55th anniversary of the passing of the Fair Housing Act. As REALTORS®, we support the practice of equal opportunity and Fair Housing to shape the future and build thriving neighborhoods. Learn more about the history of the Fair Housing Act here: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fair-housing-act
Week Three
Did You Know…?
Laws Related To the Fair Housing Act
What are additional laws you should have understanding of in this is industry?
- Americans with Disabilities Act: Title III of the 1990 law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodation and commercial facilities.
- Equal Credit Opportunity Act: The 1974 law makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program.
- State and Local Laws
Discrimination in Housing
Although it’s been over 50 years since the passing of the Fair Housing Act, we still have a long journey ahead to equalize housing opportunities. The racial homeownership and wealth gap between White and Black Americans remains similar to when housing discrimination was legal. While there were about 9.2 million more homeowners in 2021 than a decade prior, homeownership rates continue to vary by race.
Homeownership by racial class:
- White Americans: 72.7%
- Asian Americans: 62.8%
- Hispanic Americans: 50.6%
- Black Americans: 44%
Percentage of homebuyers who said they experienced steering toward or away from specific neighborhoods:
- 50% of Hispanic Americans
- 29% of White Americans
- 12% of Black Americans
- Less than 1% of Asian Americans
Homebuyers who had a homeowner or agent refuse to show property:
- 46% Hispanic Americans
- 24% of Black Americans
- 15% of White Americans
- Less than 1% of Asian Americans
Homebuyers who reported discrimination through home appraisals:
- 39% of Black Americans
- 17% of Asian Americans
- 9% of White Americans
- Less than 1% of Hispanic Americans
Learn more about race and home buying in America here.
Learn About It
Disability Discrimination
The most common Fair Housing complaint received by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is for disability discrimination. These complaints make up about 60% of what’s reported. Revisit our 2022 360° Summit: Leading with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion discussion about working with the disabled community featuring disability activist Mia Ives Rublee.
Fairhaven
Have you checked out NAR’s free, interactive fair housing simulation Fairhaven! Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has you working against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, while confronting discrimination in the homebuying process. Click here to experience Fairhaven.
NAR’s Fair Housing Action Plan
NAR’s new Fair Housing Action Plan, abbreviated ‘ACT,’ emphasizes (A)ccountability, (C)ulture Change, and (T)raining in order to ensure America’s 1.5 million REALTORS® are doing everything possible to protect housing rights in America. NAR’s ACT! Initiative addresses potential discrimination issues by providing real estate professionals with training, resources & more. Check it out here.
Watch It
Post It
Although it’s been over 50 years since the passing of the Fair Housing Act, we still have a long journey ahead to equalize housing opportunities. The racial homeownership and wealth gap between White and Black Americans remains similar to when the Fair Housing Act passed in 1968. As a REALTOR®, I’m working to support the practice of equal opportunity and uphold Fair Housing for everyone.
Week Four
Did You Know…?
National Fair Housing Alliance
There’s a National Fair Housing Alliance. Their mission is to “eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through leadership, education, outreach, membership services, public policy initiatives, community development, advocacy and enforcement”. To learn more about the NFHA, click here.
Industry Partners
Are you familiar with our Multi-Cultural Industry Partners? These organizations actively advance diversity, equity and inclusion through advocacy, professional development and community! Learn more about our partners here.
Learn About It
At Home With Diversity® Course
NAR At Home With Diversity® course is part of a comprehensive cultural diversity outreach program built on the spirit of the Fair Housing Act. It provides participants with tools to build diversity outreach into their business plans to best serve a dynamic and growing market as well as improve the industry’s ability to serve culturally diverse consumers. Register for the in person or self study course through RRES!
Podcast Recommendations
Like to learn on the go? Check out NAR’s list of podcasts about fair housing.
Watch It
Check out the list of some of our top television and documentaries addressing systematic practices that has impacted housing.
- 13TH on Netflix
- Newsday | Long Island Divided: How Real Estate Agents Treated Undercover Clients on Long Island
- THEM on Amazon Prime
- Lowballed – Nightline
- Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America on Netflix
- Amend: The Fight for America
- Seven Days Documentary | 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act Edition – National Fair Housing Alliance
Post It
As a REALTOR®, I’m committed to being honest and impartial when it comes to fair housing and upholding the letter of the law. #FairHousingMonth
