Fair Housing
Access to quality housing is about more than having a roof over your head — it is the foundation for achieving better educational, employment, and health outcomes, as well as one of the most important ways that families build wealth that they can pass along across the generations.
To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, join Richland County in celebrating
National Fair Housing Month!
During the month of April, Richland County is partnering with the City of Columbia, local businesses, and community organizations to provide free Fair Housing training. Whether you're a homeowner or renter, you've got rights! See details below.
COME LEARN WITH US:
Virtual Training | Tenant Rights
Thursday, April 13th at 6:00 PM
Training | Home Buying & Financial Workshop
Thursday, April 20th at 6:00 PM
Click here to register
Training | Homeowners' Rights
Wednesday, April 26th at 6:00 PM
Click here to register
FAIR HOUSING MONTH
April 2023 commemorates the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968. The purpose of the Act was to put an end to inequities in the housing system and eliminate racial segregation in neighborhoods — and guarantee that all Americans have the right to obtain housing free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or family status. The law prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing, and requires Federal, State, and local governments to proactively dismantle the discriminatory structures that held back people of color and other underserved populations from equitable access to the neighborhoods of their choice.
FAIR HOUSING BASICS
Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development accepted the Richland County Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), on Feb. 23, 2017. Richland County and the Columbia Housing Authority (CHA), in close collaboration with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC), joined together to prepare, conduct and submit the AFH. Presented within the AFH is a certification that collectively, the County, CHA, and SCHAC are committed to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing by taking meaningful actions to accomplish goals. Please click here to access the AFH.
Fair Housing Is the Law
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).
Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
Fair Housing Facts - 20 facts for 20 days
Ley de Equidad de Vivienda (Fair Housing Act)
El Título VIII de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1968 (Ley de Equidad de Vivienda), con sus modificaciones, prohibe la discriminación en la venta, alquiler y financiamiento de viviendas, y en otras transacciones relacionadas con la vivienda, basada en la raza, el color, la nacionalidad, la religión, el sexo, el tipo de familia (incluyendo niños menores de 18 años que viven con sus padres o con custodios legales, mujeres embarazadas y personas con custodia de niños menores de 18 años) y discapacidad.