Honoring World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day takes place each year on Dec. 1 and International Day of People with Disabilities takes place each year on Dec. 3. This month’s newsletter covers the history of discrimination against Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) and protections for them under the FHA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects individuals with physical impairments.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Did you know that the concept of fair housing came directly out of the civil rights movement and the work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? This month’s newsletter will highlight how the civil rights movement and the open housing movement influenced the fair housing practices we still use today.
The Protected Class of Source of Income in Oregon
Did you know that Source of Income is a protected class in Oregon? As of July 1, 2014, in Oregon it is unlawful to refuse to rent to prospective tenants based on their source of income, including Section 8 and other federal rent subsidy payments.
Celebrating Transgender Awareness Week
Did you know that Transgender Awareness Week is the week of November 13? It’s meant to help increase the visibility about transgender people, addresses issues members of the community face, and leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20. Transgender people experience extremely high rates of housing discrimination, a problem which is even worse among trans people of color. This month’s newsletter includes a history of the transgender community in Portland, details housing discrimination that LGBTQIA+ people experience, and includes resources for transgender people.
Fair Housing and Domestic Violence Protections
Did you know that domestic violence occurs in households across the U.S., on average, every 15 seconds? Each year, about 10 million people experience domestic violence (DV) – that’s about 20 people every minute. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Honoring Indigenous Peoples' Day in Oregon
During October, the state of Oregon recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday of the month. However, it is still not considered a federal holiday.
September is National Preparedness Month
Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? This month’s newsletter will highlight the inequitable impact of natural disasters and climate change on people living in different regions, and how sustainable land use planning can help with harm reduction.
Fair Housing and Familial Status
Did you know that familial status is a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act? The law states that housing providers may not discriminate based on familial status. This protection covers families with children under the age of 18, pregnant individuals, any person in the process of securing legal custody of a minor child (including adoptive or foster parents), and anyone with written permission of the legal parent or guardian.
Celebrating Women's Equality Day
Women’s Equality Day is August 26. Celebrated since 1971, it marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. This month’s newsletter covers the history of legal protections based on sex in the U.S. and discusses the current state of civil rights for women.
Celebrating Disability Pride Month
Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? It celebrates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July of 1990. In July of 2015, the first official celebration of Disability Pride Month took place, also marking the 25th anniversary of the signing of the ADA. Today, July 26, is National Disability Independence Day, commemorating the date the ADA was signed into law in 1990.
Celebrating Middle Housing Week
Did you know that the last week of June was Middle Housing Week? So, what is “middle housing,” anyway? The term “missing middle housing” was coined by the author, David Parolek, in 2010 and includes buildings such as duplexes, fourplexes, cottage clusters, and courtyard buildings, which have typically been illegal to build since the mid-1940s.
Celebrating Juneteenth in Oregon
On Sunday, June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day,” as it commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is short for “June Nineteenth," the date that the news of the federal abolition of slavery arrived in Texas in 1865. Juneteenth became an official federal holiday on June 17, 2021. This month’s newsletter highlights the origins of the holiday, its history in Oregon, and ways to celebrate it this year.
A Bumpy Road to LGBTQIA+ Housing Rights
Did you know that one in five transgender people in the U.S. have been discriminated against when seeking a home, and one in ten have been evicted because of their gender identity? Under the federal Fair Housing Act, it is now illegal to discriminate against a person based on their gender identity.
Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, designated to honor and pay tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander people who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. This month’s newsletter highlights the histories and contributions of the different communities and myriad cultural experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander populations in Oregon.
Celebrating National Fair Housing Month
April is National Fair Housing Month, which means that we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Although we have had many successes in the fight against housing discrimination, there's still a long road to traverse towards a more just society.
The Promise of Economic Opportunity
The promise of economic opportunity has attracted diverse communities to Oregon for decades, adding to the state’s cultural mosaic. The relationship between jobs and housing, however, is not without its problems.
Why Legal Protections Are Not Enough
Although the Fair Housing Act passed in 1968 and was intended to ensure equal access to housing, there are still many reasons why legal protections alone are not enough to achieve housing justice; specifically, because legal protections, like civil rights laws, often assume that everyone is starting out on equal footing.
Celebrating Black History Month
February is Black History Month. This newsletter is dedicated to the legacy of Black communities in Oregon, highlighting the contributions of key historical figures and Black-centered institutions in the Portland area.
Lasting Consequences of Redlining
Have you ever wondered how two neighborhoods just one block apart can look so incredibly different? This month's newsletter will discuss the outcomes of historical redlining, financial barriers to wealth creation, and ways to combat modern-day redlining on a structural level.
Creating Inclusive Communities
Did you know that 3 out of 4 Oregon renters with extremely low income (earning less than 30 percent of area median income) pay 50 percent of their income on rent and utilities? Or that 1 in 4 Oregon renters are paying more than 50 percent of their income on rent and utilities?
Native American and Indigenous History in Oregon
The month of November is National Native American Heritage Month, which is designated to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and history of Native Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Indigenous Peoples.
