February 2025 - Black History Month
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Welcome Note
As Black History Month concludes, we reflect on the significant history of the Fair Housing Act and its vital connection to Black history in America. While recognizing the progress made in addressing racial inequality, we acknowledge the ongoing work required to ensure equitable access to housing for all.
Black History Month
Did You Know…
The Fair Housing Act was signed into law just one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as a response to the nationwide protests calling for the desegregation of neighborhoods. Initially prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin, the Act was later amended to include protections for disability, sex, and familial status.
In 2023, the National Fair Housing Alliance reported that racial discrimination was the second most frequently reported complaint. Complaints of harassment based on color surged by 470.59% compared to the previous year, while race-based harassment complaints rose by 114.97%.
Additionally, the report highlighted that Black and Latino renters were more likely to be cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on rent and utilities. This disparity reflects broader inequalities that impact housing stability and access to fair housing opportunities.
So What Does It All Mean?
The Fair Housing Act marked a pivotal moment in Black history, representing one of the first major steps toward dismantling decades of neighborhood segregation and housing inequality.
While significant progress has been made, allowing individuals to file complaints against racial and color-based discrimination, the fight to eliminate such disparities entirely is far from over.
Beyond racial discrimination, there are various other factors that influence a person’s ability to secure housing, many of which intersect with broader social and economic inequalities. These systemic barriers also contribute to a cycle of disadvantage that impacts health, financial security, and overall well-being.
What Can We Do?
Educating others and raising awareness about the ongoing prevalence of racial discrimination in housing is crucial to addressing these persistent inequalities. It is important to recognize that significant challenges remain and must be addressed.
Supporting policies that strengthen fair housing laws and initiatives focused on increasing affordable housing are vital steps toward progress.
Informing individuals of their rights under the Fair Housing Act empowers them to protect themselves from discrimination and take the necessary steps when they encounter it. If you or someone you know is experiencing discrimination, don't hesitate to reach out to us!
Community Outreach
Upcoming Outreach Events
What We’ve Been Up To
Miles for Meridian
Outreach Coordinators Lola and Marissa tabled at an event hosted by Meridian. They presented Fair Housing and Eviction Prevention information to patrons who attended the event. The event took place at the Tioga Town Center and aimed to help those affected by mental illness.
SWAG Center Tabling
Lola joined community partners at SWAG center to provide information about fair housing rights and serve as a resource to the community. We are very grateful for our partnership with the SWAG Resource Center, they provide a plethora of services to the community daily.
New Home Buyers Class
Lola presented for the first time at the New Home Buyers seminar hosted by the Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation. She shared information about the Fair Housing Act to prospective new home buyers. This event is offered monthly to help educate new home buyers about the home-buying process, and we are grateful to the NHDC for allowing us to join!
Orange County Resource Fair
We were happy to have met with other FLS employees at this town hall in Orlando, which served as a resource fair. Community partners took turns sharing the resources they offer with over 200 members of the community that attended. We were able to network with other organizations, and it is always wonderful to meet with FLS employees from different projects!
African American Read-In
As we work towards building connections with multiple counties, Fair Housing Outreach Coordinator Lola attended an event hosted by the Ocala Headquarters library. This event was open to the public for people to share a story highlighting Black History. Lola shared a book titled The Fair Housing Five. This book, created by the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, focuses on the history and importance of the Fair Housing Act.
Micanopy Community Discussion
On February 26th, members of the Fair Housing Team attended a meeting at the Willie Mae Stokes Center to share information on the services offered through our project and other projects at Florida Legal Services, such as Connecting Kids to Coverage and Survivor Advocacy. It was a great way to connect with one of our more rural cities, hear back from them about their concerns, and have an open discussion to develop ways to serve them best.
Journey to Homeownership
We are proud to announce that we were part of the NHDC’s first Journey to Homeownership event, in which new home buyers traveled to different resources and received stamps on their passports. As they traveled to their destination, they gathered information from banks, insurance companies, realtors, and fair housing organizations. There was a panel discussion where attendees asked questions about all the steps in the home buying process. We were honored to be part of the inaugural event, and we look forward to seeing it become an annual tradition.
Food distribution in Bronson
In honor of an event we held at the Bronson Library, Lola volunteered with Bread of the Mighty food bank for their food drive in Bronson. It was a great way to share fair housing information with community members and promote our ‘Learn at the Library’ event.
Catholic Charities Lunch and Learn
The Eviction Prevention team also had the opportunity to provide a training workshop on tenant rights to the staff at Catholic Charities. We were able to ensure the staff had the information needed to better support their patron’s housing needs.
Alachua County Eviction Prevention Legal Clinic - If you have a housing or legal question that you would like to consult an attorney about, please join us at Helping Hands from 4pm-6pm (Lunch Provided), located at 509 NE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601. You can speak to an attorney for FREE. The Eviction Prevention will also be at the SWAG Family Resource Center to speak to Majestic Oaks renters from 9am-12pm located on 807 SW 64th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32607, if you have any questions or concerns, stop by!
Tenants’ Rights Workshops - The Alachua County Eviction Prevention team is hosting FREE monthly legal clinics “Know Your Rights As A Renter” at public locations throughout the county. Join us this month March 24th at Library Partnership (Brunch Provided) from 11am-1pm, located on 912 NE 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear advice and ask questions of experienced housing attorneys.
Alachua County Eviction Prevention Helpline - CALL: 888-780-0443
This helpline aimed at serving Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) recipients and other members of the Alachua community is up and running! Helpline operators are accepting phone calls regarding housing, landlord-tenant issues, child support, or any other legal issue faced by low-income Alachua County renters. Callers will be connected with an attorney who can provide legal assistance over the phone and in some cases, direct legal representation. EMAIL TO JOIN MAILING LIST FOR UPCOMING FREE LEGAL CLINIC!
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects you from discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. This applies to renting, buying, mortgages, appraisals, insurance, and looking for a place to live.
IF YOU THINK YOU’VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
407-801- 4224 (English)
850-680-1729 (Spanish)
fairhousing@floridalegal.org
www.floridalegal.org/fairhousing
IF YOU ARE AN ALACHUA COUNTY RESIDENT FACING BARRIERS TO HOUSING OR AN EVICTION, PLEASE CALL AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS TO REACH A LIVE ALACHUA COUNTY OPERATOR:
888-780-0443 (English and Spanish)
www.floridalegal.org/evictionprevention
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.