Supreme Court Upholds Key Fair Housing Protection

WASHINGTON, DC –Today the US Supreme Court gave the civil rights community a resounding victory in the long-awaited decision on Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. The Court held “that disparate-impact claims are cognizable under the Fair Housing Act upon considering its results-oriented language, the Court’s interpretation of similar language in Title VII and the ADEA, Congress’ ratification of disparate-impact claims in 1988 against the backdrop of the unanimous view of nine Courts of Appeals, and the statutory purpose.”

The 5-4 ruling confirms the continuing importance of disparate impact as a tool for addressing housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act and reaffirms 45 years of legal precedent, including 11 appellate court rulings. Today’s decision also strengthens the bipartisan commitment made in 1968, and again in 1988, to ensure that Americans are protected from housing discrimination. The Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches and NFHA will continue to work with its partners in the civil rights, housing, lending and insurance industries to advance housing opportunities for everyone.