The Federal Fair Housing Act passed in 1968, prompted by the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King pushed to have a fair housing law enacted in his lifetime because he understood that where people live have a direct impact on where they work, where they shop, and where their children go to school. However, 40 years later, the face of housing discrimination has changed. Discrimination is still occurring today, but it is more subtle and sophisticated.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, The Office of Human Rights (OHR) initiated a campaign through the support of the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), to inform tenants and prospective home seekers on how to identify a fair housing violation.
The Fair Housing Outreach Campaign is scheduled to commence the week of March 3, 2008. This six week campaign will target all four quadrants of the District of Columbia on the interior of 200 DC Metro Buses and five Metro Stations. The campaign will showcase information about fair housing and provide OHR's contact information for filing a complaint. This campaign is expected to reach 10,000 individuals as we attempt to expand our services and inform constituents about knowing their fair housing rights.
Moreover, thirty (30) Metro Buses will reflect the ad on the full exterior side of the bus. The five (5) designated Metro Stations that will also feature the ad include Judiciary Square, Stadium Armory, Columbia Heights, Anacostia, and Georgia Avenue.
The OHR is responsible for investigating fair housing complaints filed with the OHR through the support of a cooperative agreement with HUD. HUD refers complaints to the OHR and provides funding to enforce fair housing laws in the District of Columbia.