Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh, Inc.

FHP announces federal litigation in conjunction with CNY Fair Housing Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research HOME, Inc. HOME of Greater Cincinnati and representation by Relman Colfax PLLC alleging discrimination by Clover Group against tenants with disabilities at 40 senior housing properties in #Ohio #NewYork and #Pennsylvania The claims against Clover Group Inc. include denying reasonable accommodations as well as illegal fees, and discriminatory pricing based on disability-related needs. "Pennsylvania’s seniors deserve better, said Megan Confer-Hammond, FHP’s Executive Director. #FairHousing Read the press release here: https://fhp.org/fhp-along-with-4-other-fair-housing-organi/

The nationwide eviction moratorium by the CDC is extended to June 30, 2021. Apply now for relief to financial hardship and housing insecurity here: https://covidrentrelief.alleghenycounty.us/ Funds are available to Allegheny County and City of Pittsburgh residents for rent and utilities. #RentRelief

Home loans cannot be denied due to who will live in the home. We commend U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conciliating with Wells Fargo on a claim that a mortgage lender denied a customer's loan after learning it was for a group home for persons with disabilities. #FairLending As a result, the customer will be compensated $125,000 while Wells Fargo’s mortgage consultants, managers, underwriters, and processors will complete fair lending training. #FairHousing... Read more: https://www.hud.gov//press_releases_media_ad/hud_no_21_043

Imagine that you had the option to live in a mansion. However, you living in a mansion results in 10 people being homeless. What do you pick? What if your mansion results in 5 people being homeless? Or 1 person? Zoning is the answer to that question that we make as a society.... Single-family zoning excludes families who require an apartment, duplex, or townhouse. Due to the racial homeownership gap, the excluded families are disproportionately Black and Brown. The result is adjacent cities and suburbs with massively different demographics, such as the city of Nashville, TN being 28% Black and its suburb Franklin, TN being 6.6% Black. Kennetha, her husband and their 5 kids, want to live in Franklin, TN but, They don’t want us in that neighborhood. It’s just a longstanding, unspoken thing. Franklin is meant for the rich, white people. #FairHousing #AFFH Read more: https://www.vox.com//america-racist-housing-rules-how-to-f

Hate and violence against people of Asian descent has escalated. In February 2021 Haijun Si of Orange County, CA shared the xenophobic harassment that his family had endured for 5 months saying They are scaring my kids at night. They are afraid to go in their room themselves. Relief came from his neighbors who coordinated volunteer overnight watches outside of the Si’s family home. With violence and hate targeted against Asian Americans and people of Asian descent, we must ...protect and support each other. Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com//asian-american-harassment/

Congratulations to Jam Hammond the newly appointed City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations' Executive Director! FHP looks forward to collaborations that combats housing discrimination in the City of Pittsburgh in accomplishing our shared goal of all City residents having true housing choice! #SteelCityFairHousing

Last night America was shocked by a senseless act of violenceWhen the Nation so urgently needs the healing balm of unity, a brutal wound on our conscience forces upon us all this question: What more can I do to achieve brotherhood and equality among all Americans? President Lyndon B. Johnson’s question to Congress on April 5, 1968, the day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, is unsurprisingly relevant nearly 53 years later. On April 11, 1968 Congress passed the Fair Housing Act. Regardless of your intent, you play a role in today’s struggle for an equitable society that is free from housing discrimination. Ask yourself, What is my role? #MLKDay #BelovedCommunity

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today we remember his commitment. In 1966, the Fair Housing Act was introduced to Congress in large part due to Dr. King. In 1968, the Fair Housing Act was passed into law in a direct response to Dr. King’s assassination. ... #FairHousing was a tenet of Dr. King’s vision for a fair and equitable society. #MLKDay We strive to uphold, expand, and deliver Dr. King’s vision of housing that is free of bias. #BelovedCommunity

An estimated 15% of Pennsylvania renters will face eviction in January 2021 as reported by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA Remember renters are disproportionately Black, Latino, people with disabilities, households with children, and other Protected Classes based on gaps in homeownership. The loss of household income during a global pandemic is no individual's fault. Tenants need housing and landlords need rental income.... An eviction moratorium and rent relief helps us all as a community. Read more here: https://www.spotlightpa.org//eviction-ban-unemployment-cd/

In 1937 the federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation classified the Hill District as "Hazardous" because of a "Concentration of negro and undesirables." As a result, the Hill District received NO residential mortgages, construction or renovation. Look up how the HOLC categorized your Pittsburgh neighborhood here: https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/ ... Today Pittsburgh’s racial homeownership gap is 41%. #HowWeGotHere Support housing policies that bridge the equity gap between Black and white Pittsburgh. Give public comment at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh Board Meeting today: https://www.ura.org//board-meeting-notices-agendas-and-min

The US Department of Transportation recently defined that on airlines that service animals are defined as a dog, with no breed or type restrictions that are trained to perform a task for a person with a disability. As a result, Airlines will no longer be required to recognize emotional support animals (ESAs) as service animals. Read the rule here: https://www.transportation.gov//Service%20Animal%20Final%2... Recognize that emotional support animals continue to be protected within your housing by the Fair Housing Act.

The data is indisputable. Western Pennsylvania is racially segregated. In 1933, at least 46 Black Pennsylvanians in Industry were beaten, extorted, kidnapped, and deported by police led by Beaver County. The Black Pennsylvanians were new residents from other states. Per the US Census Beaver County, PA is 6.5% Black alone while adjacent Allegheny County is 13.4% Black alone. ... Racial segregation of today is intentional. And so desegregation and integration requires deliberate decision-making. #AFFH #FairHousing Read more here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/industry-beaver-c/

"It’s a common misconception: Black people would be wealthier if they just didn’t spend so much on clothes, sneakers and cars; Black families’ median wealth is $24,100; White families’ median wealth is $188,200 ... @SingletaryM lays out the math of systemic racism. It’s not that Whites are better money managers @DarrickHamilton, a professor of economics and urban policy @TheNewSchool, explains that: racist housing policies that facilitated wealth creation for White Americans while denying Blacks the same path to prosperity Inequity isn’t an accident and systemic racism is based on factual outcomes. And so the solution must be intentional and data-driven. #AFFH #ImpactOverIntent Read more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com//black-net-worth-wealth-g/

#GivingTuesday emphasizes giving back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection and kindness even while practicing physical distancing. Please consider donating to Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh, Inc. Donate here: https://fhp.org/take-action/donate

The Fair Housing Act prohibits fee(s) due to a tenant's Protected Class. Thereby a landlord may not impose a pet fee for an Emotional Support Animal that is required due to a tenant’s disability. The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania in Fort Washington, PA conducted a fair housing investigation that uncovered evidence of housing discrimination by @postbrothers that includes requiring pet fees for Emotional Support Animals. This led @HUDMidAtlantic to charge Post Preside...ntial Property Owner, LLC and Post Commercial Real Estate, LLC with disability discrimination. FHP congratulates #HECB, a fellow #PA @natfairhouse member, for its successful investigation. Read more here: https://www.hud.gov//press_releases_media_ad/HUD_No_20_190 See more

Echoing National Fair Housing Alliance in their celebration of those who fight for equity every day. We are grateful for all of our partners in fair housing! "Lifting up Merriam Webster’s #WordOfTheDay. Fair housing organizations fight for equity in housing, lending, water, environment, education, transportation, health, food, climate, employment and wealth. With growing inequality, this work is critically important."

Who can think straight when they’re facing eviction? Vanessa Lee a tenant who faced eviction in Harrisburg, PA. If you are facing eviction, you’re not alone. Evictions, which occur much faster than foreclosures, are disproportionately impacting Black and Brown households. ... A report from @char_keith at @spotlightPA exposes the complexity of accessing the pandemic’s emergency renter protections in Pennsylvania. Read more here: https://www.spotlightpa.org//pa-eviction-cdc-ban-loophole/

Interested in supporting FHP outside a cash donation? This #GivingTuesday DONATE YOUR TIME by volunteering as a tester! Testers are critical for FHP’s investigations into allegations of housing discrimination. Sign up for a tester training! https://fhp.org/take-action/volunteer/

Redfin, an online home sales platform, is sued by National Fair Housing Alliance and other fair housing orgs for modern day redlining by disproportionately refusing to serve Black and Brown communities. In Pennsylvania the investigation included the Philadelphia Metro Area where Redfin does not serve 5.37% of the extremely white zip codes compared to 57.55% of the extremely non-white zip codes. Additionally, Redfin provides its Best Available Service to 68.9% of the ex...tremely white zip codes but only to 12.14% to extremely non-white zip codes. Separate and unequal housing services are a violation of The Fair Housing Act. FHP supports the fight to end redlining and housing discrimination with new technologies. #ImpactProtectsUs #ImpactOverIntent #FairHousing Read the complaint and see the maps here: https://nationalfairhousing.org/redfin-investigation/

Ashley and her children had to move because her abusive ex-husband was stalking her. Her landlord refused to release her from her lease and his policy accelerated the rent for the remainder of the lease for vacating the unit early. As a result, Ashley and FHP filed a Fair Housing Act violation on the basis of sex in federal court against her landlord. The complaint explains that, Refusing early lease termination in cases involving domestic violence has an inherent disparate... impact on female tenants. Ashley and FHP are represented by Community Justice Project #FairHousing #ImpactProtectsUs #ImpactOverIntent Read more here:

We lift up the names of: Joyce Fienberg Richard Gottfried... Rose Mallinger Jerry Rabinowitz Cecil and David Rosenthal (brothers) Sylvan and Bernice Simon (spouses) Daniel Stein Melvin Wax Irving Younger Today we commemorate the second anniversary of the anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life synagogue. On this day we recommit to our values of loving our neighbors, welcoming all people, and condemning hate in all forms. #StrongerTogether