Will the Supreme Court Kill Fair Housing?

By Alan Jenkins

Open, inclusive communities free of discrimination are critical to our national success. But despite the progress we’ve made as a nation, significant obstacles to fair housing persist. There are still some real estate agents, landlords, and others who practice intentional discrimination against people of color, families with children, people with disabilities, and other Americans. But more often these days, local governments and real estate corporations engage in unjustified and unnecessary practices which have the practical effect of discriminating against people in search of housing.

In many communities, arbitrary regulations prevent the construction of affordable housing that would lead to more inclusive, integrated communities. Similarly, if a large apartment complex advertises vacancies only through word-of-mouth, the result is often that people of different races never have an opportunity to hear about or seek housing there. That means some groups of Americans are unfairly cut off from opportunities like quality schools, jobs, and business possibilities. That’s bad for us all.