Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance

May 14. 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact Rob Breymaier at (708) 207-3158
or Kathy Clark at (312) 347-7600 x13 for comment

In a report released today, the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA) details the extent of housing discrimination and segregation in the region and outlines a blueprint for change. This report demonstrates the need to prioritize fair housing activities and provides a plan for progress that will ensure equal housing opportunity, promote integration, and improve regional sustainability. Kathy Clark, CAFHA's president, notes, "Discrimination and segregation both harm individuals and adversely impact goals of regional growth."

Key findings include:
In 2007, a total of 2,252 complaints were filed with private fair housing agencies in the Chicago region.
*The average non-white household faces some form of discrimination approximately half the time it searches for housing.
*In 2007, the Illinois Department of Human Rights received 259 fair housing complaints originating in the six-county Chicago region.
*Recent research shows that whites self-segregate more than other groups.

Rob Breymaier, a CAFHA director and co-author of the report notes, "Immediate action is needed to address and remedy the structural forces that perpetuate segregation and enable discrimination." Key recommendations include that:
*The State take an active role in providing for non-profit fair housing activities by allocating $1 million of its operating budget annually to fund private non-profit fair housing organizations;
*The Illinois Housing Development Authority adopt plans to foster affordable housing development for families and other protected persons in high-opportunity communities;
*The State add source of income protection that includes Housing Choice Vouchers and Cook County eliminate its exclusion of Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in its source of income protection;
*The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Cook County hold accountable entitlement jurisdiction communities and sub-recipients, respectively, that fail to provide for the affirmative furthering of fair housing;
*Community Reinvestment Act examinations put more emphasis on locating bank branches of depository institutions in underserved areas, and lenders and underwriters formulate responsible lending products for communities of color;
*Real estate companies develop policies to provide wide ranges of listings to their clients that include neighborhoods with a variety of demographics;
*The State prioritize economic development in communities with few jobs or declining job growth;
*Municipalities require inspection(s) of state and federal accessibility requirements during the construction phase of new multi-family buildings and buildings undergoing substantial rehab; and
*Municipalities develop policies to integrate immigrants into their communities rather than engaging in selective enforcement and making immigration enforcement a local priority.

The Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance is an association of private fair housing organizations, governmental bodies, and other concerned groups in the Chicago metropolitan area. The purposes of CAFHA are to develop and support programs that further fair housing rights and opportunities; develop strategies to promote long-term racial diversity and integration; and take steps to combat discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military discharge status, source of income or housing status.