Learn Fair Housing History in 5 Minutes
The fight for fair housing has a long history in New York City and nationwide – here are three important moments in fair housing history:
THE FAIR HOUSING ACT (1968) comes out of CIVIL RIGHTS ERA ACTIVISM and protects you from discrimination when you are renting, buying, or financing your home, based on your:
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Religion
- Sex
- Disability
- Family status
The City of New York passed the nation’s first anti-discrimination law in housing in 1951. Today, the NEW YORK STATE and NEW YORK CITY HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS include additional protections based on:
- Age
- Citizenship
- Lawful job or source of income
- Gender, gender identity, or gender expression
- Marriage or partnership status
- Current children or plans to have children in the future
- Height or weight
- Sexual orientation
- Experience as a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses
- Military service
- Criminal record
Visit our resources page to get more information on your rights, file a complaint, or get support with other housing challenges.
THE FAIR HOUSING ACT also requires all cities nationwide to affirmatively further fair housing. This is why Where We Live NYC focuses on proactive steps to confront segregation and address unequal access to opportunity through a two-fold approach:
- Enabling people to move to the neighborhood of their choice or stay in their current neighborhood, even as it changes
- Investing equitably in neighborhoods to ensure that all communities have the resources they need to thrive
In 2023, New York City created a Fair Housing Framework through LOCAL LAW 167. The law created a new local mandate for our five-year fair housing plan.
