April is Fair Housing Month. It is a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy and the struggle for fair housing opportunities for all people.

The theme for Fair Housing Month is “Fair Housing Equals Opportunity”.

49 years ago, on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Seven days after King’s murder,

Congress passed the federal Fair Housing Act in commemoration of King’s work. Today, we rely on the Fair

Housing Act to protect peoples’ right to housing choice unencumbered by discrimination. Thus, while we mourn the loss of a great leader, we commemorate King’s memory by renewing our commitment to craft

communities free of housing discrimination.

According to Federal Law it is unlawful to intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in their pursuit,

or enjoyment of rights protected by the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, amended in 1988.

The federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in housing based on these factors:

RACE

COLOR

NATIONAL ORIGIN

RELIGION

SEX

FAMILIAL STATUS (Families with children under the age of 18, or who are expecting a child)

HANDICAP (If you or someone close to you has a disability)

Discrimination based on the reasons listed above is prohibited in the rental, sale, financing, appraisal, and

insurance of housing. This means more than an outright refusal to deal with you. It means you should not be treated differently in any way for any reasons listed above.

People who feel that they may be victims of housing discrimination are encouraged to contact the Greater

Houston FairHousingCenter at 713.641.3247 or houstonfairhousing@swbell.net.