This resolution celebrates the anniversaries of the Fair Housing Act (passed in 1968) and the Fair Housing Amendments Act (passed in 1988), and calls attention to ongoing housing discrimination in America. It officially recognizes April 2023 as Fair Housing Month to raise awareness about unfair treatment in housing based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, disability, and religion.

The resolution documents extensive evidence that housing discrimination remains a serious problem despite these laws being in place for decades. It highlights specific issues: Black homebuyers face significant discrimination from real estate agents and appraisers, homes in Black neighborhoods are undervalued by roughly $162 billion compared to similar homes in white neighborhoods, same-sex couples are 73% more likely to be denied mortgages, and people using housing vouchers face discrimination. The resolution also notes that over 4 million fair housing violations occur annually, yet fewer than 1% are reported, and that racial segregation in major cities has actually increased since 1990.

The resolution calls on Congress and federal agencies to strengthen enforcement of fair housing laws, increase funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's fair housing office, expand protections to include source-of-income discrimination (protecting people who receive rental assistance), and ensure that everyone—including immigrants, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals—have equal access to housing information and opportunities. Essentially, it's a statement that while progress has been made, much more work is needed to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure all Americans have fair access to housing.

Original Fair Housing Resolution of 2023

Green, Al

Original Fair Housing Resolution of 2023 This resolution expresses support for the goals and&nbsp;values of the 55th anniversary of the&nbsp;Fair Housing Act and&nbsp;for efforts to strengthen housing protections.