Each April, REALTORS® commemorate the passage of the 1968 federal Fair Housing Act, which made it illegal to discriminate based on individuals’ membership in a protected class in the sale, lease, or rental of housing, and is represented in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
RASCW is committed to working to help end the housing discrimination that still exists today, and to protect the homeownership rights of all to build healthy and inclusive communities. This (and every) month, we ask you, our members, to join us in identifying how we can each contribute to making housing equality a reality. Please explore these resources aimed at engaging you in the education, personal growth, and work needed to achieve fair housing for our communities:
Overview of Fair Housing
- Watch this recording of a NAR event, The Past, Present, and Future of Fair Housing, hosted by Soledad O’Brien and featuring the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Watch this recent NAR podcast on “Fair Housing: Who’s Being Left Out of the Conversation?”.
- Review this fair housing information provided by NAR, including related current events and statistics.
Professional & Personal Development – Three Ways You Can Become a More Inclusive Practitioner
1. Watch the NAR Implicit Bias Training Video and/or Complete the Bias Override Certification Course
2. Complete the NAR At Home With Diversity® (AHWD) Certification Course
3. Complete the Free NAR Fairhaven Discrimination Simulation, which puts you in the shoes of someone experiencing housing discrimination and builds awareness of fair housing issues. Members who complete this training in April will be entered into a drawing to win a fair housing gift box or $50 gas card!
Local Resources
- Learn about the RASCW Affordable Housing & Equal Opportunities Committee. This link also provides information on federal, state, and local fair housing laws, buyer, seller, and real estate professional responsibilities, and what to do if you suspect housing discrimination.
- Review the resources on the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association’s Fair Housing website
- Check out the Fair Housing Council, a local organization that offers programming and services for both consumers and industry professionals to promote fair housing.
- Review the information and services provided by the Wisconsin Tenant Resource Center, including details specific to discrimination and rental rights.
- Watch this recent podcast on the Sun Prairie Real Estate Show, which features RASCW CEO Ruth Hackney and discusses fair housing issues.
Marketing & Social Media Assets
- Utilize these marketing assets provided by NAR to educate your clients about your commitment to fair housing as a REALTOR®.
Other Resources
- Check out these NAR Fair Housing videos, including their Window to the Law series covering related topics such as advertising, housing vouchers, love letters, and assistance animals.
- Attend one of these NAR virtual Fair Housing events on “Fair Housing in Your Neighborhood – How to be an Agent of Change” and “How Do We Close the Racial Homeownership Gap?”.
- Review all the information and resources on NAR’s 2022 Fair Housing Month website, including related book, video, and podcast recommendations.
- Read this article on how to “Get Your Team Invested in Fair Housing”.
