National Fair Housing Alliance Praises Biden-Harris Administration’s New Efforts to Narrow Racial Wealth Gap

Washington, D.C. — Today, Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s historic announcement today in Tulsa, Oklahoma regarding new actions to build Black wealth and narrow the racial wealth gap:

“We are thrilled to see the Biden-Harris Administration taking steps to build Black wealth, narrow the racial wealth gap and reinvest in communities that have been slighted for centuries, and we are encouraged by the measures the Administration is taking to ensure people of color can tap into and access housing and lending opportunities. 

“Being eligible for an opportunity does not mean people can access that program, product, or service. In fact, structural racism has meant that eligible people of color often cannot avail themselves of opportunities to access homeownership. Secretary Marcia Fudge is making sure components are in place so people can get the quality loans they need to purchase housing they can afford in their neighborhood of choice.

“The steps President Biden is taking to address our nation’s long history of housing discrimination and the structural barriers that lock people out of housing opportunities is both welcomed and urgently needed. Racism is not only harmful to individuals, but it is destructive to our entire society. It makes us less competitive and productive in global markets.

“It is critically important that federal agencies take steps to bolster homeownership rates for low- and moderate-income homebuyers in underserved communities while protecting against gentrification. Across the country, just 48 percent of Latinos and 42 percent of Blacks own their own homes, compared to 72 percent of Whites. Latino and Black Americans also have just a fraction of the wealth of their White counterparts.

“The low rate of homeownership among Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians is a result of the persistent wealth gap, discrimination, and structural barriers such as algorithmic bias. The use of technology in the housing industry is on the rise. It has been criticized for contributing to discriminatory outcomes that have profound impacts on whether people of color can successfully obtain housing, credit, or insurance.

“There is so much work to be done to address centuries of redlining, segregation, a widening wealth gap, and other biased policies that are unfortunately woven into our nation’s fabric. Our Keys Unlock Dreams initiative is dedicated to increasing the homeownership rate for communities of color and millennials while simultaneously closing the racial wealth gap and ensuring that every neighborhood has the resources and amenities people need to live successful lives. Through this effort and continued innovative approaches like what the Biden-Harris Administration is proposing, we are confident we can put an end to housing inequality and place underserved families in positions to own homes and accumulate intergenerational wealth.” 

About NFHA’s Keys Unlock Dreams Initiative

Keys Unlock Dreams is a nationwide initiative led by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) dedicated to increasing the homeownership rate for communities of color and millennials, while simultaneously closing the racial wealth gap. This initiative strives to demystify and unlock the American dream of homeownership, opening the doors to the many opportunities and options that it provides.

Kristen Clarke becomes first Black woman to head DOJ’s Civil Rights Division

Washington, D.C.-The Senate has confirmed Kristen Clarke to be the Justice Department’s civil rights chief, making her the first Black woman to fill the high-profile role.
 
Clarke fills the post at a pivotal time for the Justice Department. Clarke, a longtime civil rights attorney, will reinvigorate investigations of systemic housing discrimination, inquiries that languished during the previous administration.
 
The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Clarke began her career as a Justice Department lawyer, prosecuting police brutality, hate crimes and human trafficking cases and enforcing voting rights laws. She continued advocacy work on voting rights at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and was the civil rights enforcement officer for the New York State Attorney General’s Office. 
 
” I can think of no better person to lead the Civil Rights Division than Kristen Clarke,” stated Vince Larkins, FHC President/CEO. “At this crucial time in the history of our nation, with Freedom, Justice and Equality hanging in the balance, the FHC congratulates Ms. Clarke on her historic appointment. We look forward to working with her in our common mission of fair housing for all people,” he further stated.
 
“NFHA extends its warmest congratulations to Kristen Clarke. Her confirmation will help the Justice Department immensely as the agency works to restore the American people’s faith in our democratic institutions, stated Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA). “With her vast experience, Clarke is the most qualified candidate to lead civil rights enforcement for the nation. She is a powerful and dedicated civil rights advocate who has worked at the federal and state levels to enforce fair housing and other civil rights laws. Her entire career – in fact, her entire life – has been spent in the pursuit of equal justice under law, and she is exactly the leader that the Division needs right now,” she further stated.  

National Fair Housing Alliance Applauds Confirmation of Vanita Gupta as United States Associate Attorney General

Washington, D.C. — Today, Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Vanita Gupta to serve as Associate Attorney General of the United States:

“This is a tremendous day for civil rights. Now confirmed by the Senate, Vanita Gupta will be the first civil rights lawyer and first woman of color ever to serve as Associate Attorney General. NFHA is looking forward to working closely with Associate Attorney General Gupta as she steps into the leadership of an agency that plays a crucial role in enforcing our nation’s civil rights laws. 

“Associate Attorney General Gupta has spent her career fighting for equality and advancing the civil rights of many communities. Her record as a civil rights leader and attorney is incredibly strong and she has gone above and beyond to protect fair housing and lending rights so that everyone has a chance to succeed, no matter where they live or what they look like. 

“At a time of rampant anti-voter legislation, increased hate crimes, and other attacks on our rights and our democracy, it is critical that we have a dedicated civil rights lawyer who has consistently advanced the cause of justice serving in one of the top positions at the Department of Justice. We look forward to working with Associate Attorney General Gupta and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure a more equitable society and equal housing opportunity for all people.”

NFHA Issues Statement on the Passing of Walter Mondale

Washington, D.C. — Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), issued the following statement on the passing of former Vice President, Senator, and civil rights icon Walter Mondale:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Walter Mondale, an incredible stalwart for justice and human rights. His death is a huge loss for the fair housing community for which he was a staunch ally and longtime friend.
 
“As a senator, Mondale (D-Minn.) co-authored the landmark Fair Housing Act of 1968 with Sen. Ed Brooke (R-Mass.). This iconic civil rights law banned discrimination in all types of housing and required jurisdictions receiving housing funding to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH), which meant they must take meaningful steps to end discrimination, tackle the harmful effects of segregation, and connect all communities to opportunity. The law also established the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity to fully enforce all components of the law. The Fair Housing Act continues to be a vital tool for creating a just and equitable society.
 
 
 
“Over the years, Vice President Mondale graciously lent his support to NFHA’s fair housing efforts, and I am so humbled to have had the opportunity to work with him to advance these shared goals. He provided support on the award-winning 2018 short film, “Seven Days,” which was produced by NFHA and Nationwide Insurance Company to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. I had the honor of hearing him speak at a 2015 Fair Housing Month event at HUD, during which he pushed for the vigorous enforcement of AFFH. In 2008, Vice President Mondale served as the Honorary Co-Chair for the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act along with Sen. Ed Brooke and Dorothy Height.
 
“Walter Mondale had a level of integrity and love for people that I can only hope other lawmakers will seek to emulate, especially at this moment in time when our country continues to grapple with so many ongoing crises—health, economic, and social. The issues we face today will continue to worsen unless we fully enforce our nation’s seminal fair housing law, which Vice President Mondale fought so hard to enact.” 
 
“R.I.P. Vice President Mondale. Thank you for all you have done to free our country from the last vestige of Jim Crow in our society today. Housing Discrimination. We will finish the JOB”, stated Vince Larkins, FHC President/CEO and member of the NFHA Board of Directors.
 
 
 
 
 

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