HUD Begins Annual Fair Housing Month in Chicago

HUD launched its 2005 National Fair Housing Month on April 1 at a special observance in Chicago. Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Carolyn Peoples was the featured speaker at an event, which included participation from Chicago's John Marshal Law School, Fair Housing Legal Clinic. Chicago was chosen as the kick off city because of its long history in the civil rights movement, which includes the first open housing marches in the early sixties by the Reverend Martin Luther King.

In her remarks, Assistant Secretary Peoples noted that HUD's launch of public service announcements designed to educate the population about their rights and responsibilities has greatly increased awareness of the law. She said that as a result more people than ever are coming forward and reporting discrimination. She also announced that HUD was beginning to take a more proactive approach and has formed a new division within Fair Housing to investigate and prosecute systematic housing discrimination. The Assistant Secretary also said that HUD was launching a stepped up effort to fight discrimination by the providers of senior housing. She said the effort would include educating both seniors and those who provide them with housing.