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WHEREAS, April 11, 2023 marks the 55th anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which, as amended, pronounces a national policy mandating fair housing opportunities for all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status; and,
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WHEREAS, on December 16, 1958, Mayor David Lawrence signed the Fair Housing Practices ordinance into effect, which, as amended, additionally prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, place of birth, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, citizenship or immigration status, preferred language, or hairstyle; and,
WHEREAS, illegal barriers to equal opportunity in housing, whether subtle or blatant, diminish the rights of all and violate our community’s shared and deeply held values of equality and dignity for all; and,
WHEREAS, the Fair Housing Act, Executive Order 12892, 59 F.R. 2939, HUD Final Rule 80 FR 42271, and HUD Final Rule 86 FR 30779 clarified a responsibility of federal and federally funded state and local governments to affirmatively further fair housing and take actions to undo historic patterns of segregation and other types of discrimination and afford access to opportunity that has long been denied; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations convened the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Task Force, which released twelve recommendations to the City of Pittsburgh for decreasing discrimination and increasing equity in housing; and,
WHEREAS, the City through its Mayor, Council, Commissions, Departments and Authorities still works toward achieving the recommendations of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Task Force and ending housing inequity for its citizens; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh encourages all agencies, institutions, and individuals, public and private, in the City of Pittsburgh to abide by the letter and spirit of the Fair Housing Law in the pursuit of expanding opportunities and improving the quality of life for all; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh commits to make every effort to support the citizens of Pittsburgh and the Departments, Board, Offices, and Authorities of the City of Pittsburgh in their fight to end discrimination in housing and Affirmatively Further Fair Housing; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim April 2022, as “Fair Housing Month,” in the City of Pittsburgh.