The Fair Housing Rights Center in Southeastern Pennsylvania (FHRC) was originally organized in 1990 and was established in 1992 to address the problem of housing discrimination in Montgomery County. FHRC was founded by Dr. Mari K. Fielder, a professor and mother who realized the need for fair housing advocacy for women with children, and Marlene Craven, a disability rights advocate.
FHRC educates the public, professionals, and jurisdictions on fair housing/fair lending laws; provides investigative and enforcement services to individuals who have experienced housing discrimination in rental, sales, lending, appraisals, and other housing-related transactions.
We work with housing providers, management companies, and municipal offices to ensure compliance with fair housing laws, guidance, regulations, and rules that govern housing opportunities and best practices in property management, leading to strong, safe, and stable communities.
Tenants with disabilities are a specific, vulnerable population that are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, Title VI, and the general purview of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, as amended, and other related laws. The FHRC supports tenants with disabilities as they are forced to navigate difficult housing situations.
The federal Fair Housing Rights Act is Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, as amended, and serves to protect every individual from discrimination within the public housing industry.
The Fair Housing Act has two primary goals. The first is to combat housing discrimination across the country. The second is to promote diverse , inclusive communities for all people.
FHRC provides support services and access to housing opportunities for occupants, home seekers, housing providers, and homeowners.
FHRC also aims to preserve and protect community investments that promote housing, health, wealth, and well-being. FHRC educates the public and professionals on fair housing and lending laws to enhance and enrich the public. Provides investigative and enforcement services to individuals who have experienced housing discrimination in the areas of rental, sales, lending, insurance, and appraisals. Collaborates with the government to enhance the public's understanding and awareness of fair housing policies. Audit real estate and related industry practices; advocate for sustaining good or amending harmful housing policies. FHRC contracts with housing providers and private industry to improve compliance with fair housing and lending laws.
FHRC monitors the community for compliance with applicable housing laws and contracts with private businesses to conduct fair housing or fair lending investigations. Additionally, FHRC provides housing education, services, information, and referrals. FHRC operates as a trauma-informed service provider.
To foster a culture of inclusion that leads to housing opportunities, equality, and equity for all in society.
Dismantle open and hidden remnants of redlining, structural and institutional racism, and people-driven biases that impact public policies and social practices that harm protected classes in housing, related-industries, intersect with community and quality of life, and advocate when government and private actors impede fair housing choice for all and create social problems.
The Fair Housing Rights Center in Southeastern Pennsylvania (FHRC) stands in solidarity with those who seek racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.
In 2020, our nation witnessed open violence towards unarmed George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Both deaths shocked our conscience and provoked unprecedented action, which resulted in nation-wide protests as well as an interest in discussing all forms of justice in ways that were overdue.
To address structural racism that impacts quality of life by presenting as residential racial segregation, health disparities, educational achievement gap, racial wealth gap, and healthy housing issues, we invite good corporate citizens to support FHRC’s work that produces positive results such as: preventing untimely episodes of homelessness, displacement, and institutionalization.
FHRC is an experienced non-profit coordinator of symposia that deals with the intersection of fair housing and social conditions that impacting the public including:
