WHEREAS, April 11, 2024 marked the 56th Anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 - the Fair Housing Act - which enunciates a national policy of Fair Housing without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status, and physical disability, and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, Fair housing policies support the development of racially and economically diverse communities that reflect our City’s values, and expanding access to neighborhoods of choice is crucial for our City’s efforts to create economic and educational opportunity for all Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, Even through the nondiscriminatory policy codified in the Fair Housing Act is the law of the land, proper enforcement requires the continued cooperation of government officials; real estate, homebuilding, and insurance professionals; public housing organizations and advocates; and private citizens; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is committed to empowering its private citizens, employees, public housing and nonprofit organizations with the knowledge and tools to recognize housing discrimination; and
WHEREAS, Promoting equal housing opportunity is essential to our City’s broader mission of ensuring justice and equality in all areas of life and for all Philadelphians, regardless their background. Fair Housing Month will provide an important opportunity to celebrate the historic accomplishments of housing advocates and civil rights leaders and to advocate for continued expansion of the invaluable civil rights protections enshrined in the Fair Housing Act; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY recognizes April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Philadelphia and celebrates the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a landmark federal civil rights bill that protects individuals and families from discrimination in the housing market.
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