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April is National Fair Housing Month and the
Erie County Fair Housing Partnership, Inc. is encouraging Western New
Yorkers to participate in the events commemorating the passage of the
National Fair Housing Act and other important advancements in civil
rights. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Keepers of the Dream.”
The National Fair Housing Act was passed in
April of 1968 one week after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. It
is one of many laws that codifies the civil rights of American citizens by
prohibiting housing discrimination. Under this law, and subsequent New
York State legislation, discrimination in housing based upon race, color,
national origin, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status,
familial status or sexual orientation is unlawful. Discrimination based
upon lawful source of income and gender identity and expression is also
illegal under some local laws.
The Erie County Fair
Housing Partnership has worked for almost 25 years to increase commitment
to fair housing through outreach, education and community dialogue.
To raise public
awareness of the persistence and prevalence of housing discrimination, and
to inform people of their rights under fair housing law, the Erie County
Fair Housing Partnership and its member organizations are promoting and
participating in a series of activities this April. We invite you to come
celebrate Fair Housing Month and join the fight against housing
discrimination through your participation in any or all of the events.
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