Fair Housing and Alliance’s Ongoing Commitment

April marks the 57th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, signed into law on April 11, 1968, by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this vital piece of civil rights legislation made it illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or familial status. Over the years, protections were expanded to include people with disabilities and families (1988) and LGBTQ+ individuals (2020). 

In Minneapolis and the greater Twin Cities area, redlining and racially restrictive covenants once blocked many from homeownership based on race, ethnicity, or religion. The “Mapping Prejudice” project from the University of Minnesota visualizes these now often hidden histories by mapping where these racially restrictive covenants appear in legal documents across the Metro Area. Made illegal and unenforceable by the Fair Housing Act, these covenants still formed the basis for housing inequality in Minneapolis that still exists to this day.  

At Alliance Housing, we carry the values of the Fair Housing Act into everything we do. Our mission to create deeply affordable housing is a direct response to the lasting impacts of housing discrimination. We go further than the law requires by offering housing to individuals who are often excluded from rental opportunities, particularly those who have difficult criminal, rental, or financial histories. While the Fair Housing Act does not explicitly protect people who fall under those categories, we believe that everyone needs and deserves the opportunity to create a home for themselves. 

Enforcement of fair housing protections faces growing challenges. Efforts to weaken the civil rights functions of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), along with other federal agencies, threaten the Fair Housing Act’s ability to be upheld and enforced. This puts affordable and non-discriminatory housing at risk for individuals not just in Minnesota but across the country.  

Despite these challenges, Alliance remains steadfast in our mission which stands on the back of the Fair Housing Act. We are committed to providing housing that is deeply affordable and accessible. Through policy advocacy and strong partnerships, we will continue to work to expand housing access across Minneapolis. No matter the changes at the federal level, we continue to ensure our housing is rooted in equity and inclusion because everyone deserves a place to call home.