Roundtable Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Fair Housing Act

PROVIDENCE, RI – United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch hosted a roundtable discussion in his office on Wednesday with nearly two-dozen local housing activists to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act was signed into law on April 11, 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Civil Rights Division, enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability.

The roundtable opened with welcoming remarks from U.S. Attorney Dambruch and featured an overview of the Justice Department’s work combatting housing discrimination, and a commitment of resources from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold accountable landlords who violate the Fair Housing Act.

 During the event, participants from legal services, fair housing organizations, shelters, housing policy organizations, disability rights advocates, and state and local housing offices had the opportunity to voice their views and identify the most pressing housing discrimination issues facing their clients in Rhode Island. Attendees concluded the meeting by sharing goals that aim to advance enforcement efforts and ensure equal protections under the law.

"On this, the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the enactment of the Fair Housing Act, it is important that we clearly restate our commitment to work together to ensure that discrimination in Rhode Island not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch. “Discrimination in housing situations is often underreported and may be less visible than discrimination in the workplace, but it is an egregious violation of a person’s right to fair housing. My office is committed to uncovering patterns and practice of housing discrimination where they exist in Rhode Island and vigorously enforcing the law.”

Individuals or agencies wishing to report alleged cases of housing discrimination may do so by contacting Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy R. Romero at USARI.CivilRightsComplaint@usari.gov

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