Fair Housing Rights Center In Southeastern Pennsylvania

THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO COUNSEL AND EDUCATE FAIR HOUSING REQUIREMENTS AND PROMOTE COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS.

THE FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (FHRC) IS A NONPROFIT 501 C 3 ORGANIZATION STRIVING TO ELIMINATE UNLAWFUL INEQUALITIES AND INEQUITIES IN HOUSING SINCE IT WAS INCORPORATED IN 1992. FHRC EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON FAIR HOUSING/FAIR LENDING LAWS TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION. PROVIDES INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN RENTAL, SALES, INSURANCE, LENDING, AND APPRAISALS. WORKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF FAIR HOUSING POLICIES. AUDITS THE PRACTICES OF REAL ESTATE AND RELATED INDUSTRIES REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. ADVOCATES TO SUSTAIN GOOD OR AMEND HARMFUL HOUSING POLICIES; CONTRACTS WITH HOUSING PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS; MONITORS THE COMMUNITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE HOUSING LAWS; CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO CONDUCT FAIR HOUSING OR FAIR LENDING INVESTIGATIONS; OFFERS HUD-CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES; OFFERS INFORMATION AND REFERRALS ON HOUSING-RELATED ISSUES AND OPERATES AS A TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICE PROVIDER. AS THE DEMAND FOR FAIR HOUSING GREW IN 2007, FHRC EXPANDED ITS GEOGRAPHICAL REACH TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC THAT RELIED ON THE ORGANIZATION FOR SERVICES. IT IS ALSO WHY THE ORGANIZATION CHANGED ITS NAME FROM THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO THE FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, SERVING BUCKS, CHESTER, DELAWARE, MONTGOMERY, AND PHILADELPHIA COUNTIES. AS LIVING EVOLVES, SO DOES HOUSING. THEREFORE, TO SERVE UNDERSERVED RURAL AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES, FHRC INCREASED ITS BOUNDARIES BY EXTENDING SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN BERKS, BUCKS, CHESTER, CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, LANCASTER, LEBANON, LEHIGH, MONTGOMERY, PERRY, PHILADELPHIA, SCHUYLKILL, AND YORK COUNTIES. BY EXPANDING INTO NEW COMMUNITIES, FHRC CAN HELP 14 COUNTIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. FROM 2021 THROUGH 2022, FHRC EXPERIENCED STABILITY BECAUSE NEW FULL-TIME STAFF JOINED THE ORGANIZATION AND RECEIVED AN INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE. THE STAFF CONTINUED TO TELEWORK WHILE CONDUCTING 566 INTAKES CONSISTING OF 327 COMPLAINTS THAT RESULTED IN 27 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, FIVE REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS, AND 239 INQUIRIES THAT PARLAYED INTO REFERRALS AND EDUCATION WITH THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS, INCLUDING EO 14021 (GUARANTEEING AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX, INCLUDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY). THAT ENABLED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO RECOGNIZE LGBTQ+ DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE PROTECTION OF SEX, ALSO KNOWN AS GENDER. FINALLY, ALTHOUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS NOT DISSIPATED, IT HAS FORCED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE HOW RACE DISCRIMINATION HAS IMPACTED THE WEALTH GAP, APPRAISAL BIAS, MODERN-DAY REDLINING, AND SUPPORT FOR MINORITY-OWNED OR OPERATED BUSINESSES, INCLUDING 501 C 3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THAT ASIDE, HERE ARE WAYS THAT THE STAFF AT FHRC USED THEIR TIME TO INCREASE HOUSING EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN FY 2022: CONDUCTED 566 INTAKE CALLS, INCLUDING DIVERSE ALLEGATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND NON-DISCRIMINATORY CALLS, I.E., PROCESSED 327 ALLEGATIONS OF UNLAWFUL HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND 239 INQUIRIES AND REFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATION WITH THE PUBLIC. SUBMITTED 11 COMPLAINTS TO HUD, THE PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, AND PRIVATE ATTORNEYS; AND THE STAFF NEGOTIATED 28 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, WHICH ARE CHANGES TO HOUSING POLICIES AND PRACTICES, AND FIVE REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS, WHICH ARE STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO PROPERTIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. EDUCATED 340 PERSONS ON FAIR HOUSING CONSUMER RIGHTS AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. CONDUCTED 191 INVESTIGATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC THAT CONTRIBUTED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE IN HOUSING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING FHRC TO WORK ON YOUR BEHALF.