Students Celebrate "Fair Housing Education in America"

Fifth graders at Red Oak Elementary School in Oklahoma City joined the HUD Oklahoma City Field Office recently for the first-ever "Fair Housing Education in America Day." Designed for 4th through 6th grade students, this national education project will give teachers, parents and their children a basic understanding of the landmark Fair Housing Act.

Lead Equal Opportunity Specialist Bill Fink talks to 5th graders about fair housing.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. To mark the occasion, HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and its fair housing partners encouraged schools across the country to instruct younger children about fair housing opportunities. Using a lesson plan developed by HUD, instructors will help to educate young people and to promote the principles of equal opportunity in housing.

"The goal of ‘Fair Housing Education in America Day' is to start the conversation about fair housing opportunities at a young age," said Kim Kendrick, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "It's critically important to teach future generations of renters and home buyers about their rights under the law."

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on families with children, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or sex and this April marks its 40th anniversary. Used to create awareness, Fair Housing Month is designed to educate people of all ages about the rights they have under the Fair Housing Act.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate over 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY).