The Fair Housing Act Must Be Strengthened and Expanded | Opinion
housing crisis, rising economic precarity and an ongoing pandemic that is increasing the number of people with disabilities.
More than 50 years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act—and more than three decades since it was amended—it is time to clarify and expand the protected categories to ensure protections for the growing population of people with disabilities as well as specify protections for the LGBTQ+ community.As an urban sociologist with over 10 years of experience studying housing issues, the protections of the Fair Housing Act must be expanded to address current housing insecurity.
Housing is inextricably linked to health, employment, education and other outcomes. Ensuring equitable access to safe, quality housing is essential.The U.S.
Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale and rental of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability.In a 2021 report, the National Fair Housing Alliance reported over 28,700 fair housing complaints had been filed in 2020.
