At the April Special Council Presentation Ceremony, Councilwoman Jenifer Bailey presented a proclamation to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act and declare April 2022 as Fair Housing Month. This act established a national policy that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and natural origin. The City of Homestead along with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development are working together to realize the dream of fair and affordable housing for all residents. The City of Homestead is committed to addressing the discrimination in the Homestead community and support programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing opportunities and plan partnership efforts with other organizations to ensure the right to fair housing.
“Fair housing is an important part of every community. We want our residents to be treated fairly and have options to choose from when deciding where to live,” remarked Councilwoman Bailey, “It is very important to hold the annual observance and continue to reinforce and remind the community of the Fair Housing Act that was passed many years ago.”
The City of Homestead works closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to enforce the Fair Housing Act throughout the Homestead Community and manages fair housing complaints in partnership with Miami-Dade County. The proclamation is an annual observance to promote awareness of Fair Housing practices and recommit the Fair Housing Act’s goals.
More About the Fair Housing Act:
Fair Housing policies in the United States were developed largely in the 1960s. Originally, the terms “fair housing” and “open housing” came from a political movement of the time to outlaw discrimination in the rental or purchase of homes and a broad range of other housing-related transactions, such as advertising, mortgage lending, homeowner's insurance and zoning. The goal is to offer equal access to safe, decent, and affordable housing to all by combating housing discrimination.
Homestead residents can find information on fair housing and the Community Development Block Grant at www.cityofhomestead.com/cdbg. Or, for further information, call the City of Homestead’s Finance Department at 305-224-4553.