FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

THE FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (FHRC): HOW WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, & HOW WE DO IT:THE FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (FHRC) IS A NONPROFIT 501 (C) (3) ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN WORKING TO ELIMINATE UNLAWFUL INEQUALITIES AND INEQUITIES IN HOUSING SINCE 1992. FHRC EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT FAIR HOUSING AND LENDING, INVESTIGATES HOUSING-RELATED ACTIVITIES, AND TAKES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION. IN ADDITION, FHRC IS A BROAD-BASED, FULL-SERVICE, QUALIFIED FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION. THE STAFF PROVIDES INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN RENTAL, SALES, LENDING, INSURANCE, AND APPRAISALS. WORKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF FAIR HOUSING POLICIES. AUDITS THE PRACTICES OF REAL ESTATE AND RELATED INDUSTRIES; ADVOCATES TO SUSTAIN GOOD OR AMEND HARMFUL HOUSING POLICIES. FHRC CONTRACTS WITH HOUSING PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. FHRC MONITORS THE COMMUNITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE HOUSING LAWS AND CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO CONDUCT FAIR HOUSING OR FAIR LENDING INVESTIGATIONS. FHRC PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO HOUSING COUNSELORS. LASTLY, FHRC PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS ON HOUSING-RELATED ISSUES AND OPERATES AS A TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICE PROVIDER. AS THE DEMAND FOR FAIR HOUSING GREW IN 2007, FHRC EXPANDED ITS GEOGRAPHICAL REACH TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC THAT RELIED ON THE ORGANIZATION FOR SERVICES. IT IS ALSO WHY THE ORGANIZATION CHANGED ITS NAME FROM THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO THE FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, SERVING BUCKS, CHESTER, DELAWARE, MONTGOMERY, AND PHILADELPHIA COUNTIES. AS SOCIOPOLITICAL CONDITIONS EVOLVE, BOTH IMPACT ACCESS TO HOUSING AND FAIR HOUSING POLICIES AND PRACTICES. THEREFORE, TO REACH MORE UNDERSERVED RURAL AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES BY 2020, FHRC INCREASED ITS BOUNDARIES TO RURAL AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS IN BERKS, BUCKS, CHESTER, CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, LANCASTER, LEBANON, LEHIGH, MONTGOMERY, PERRY, PHILADELPHIA, SCHUYLKILL, AND YORK COUNTIES. BY EXPANDING INTO NEW COMMUNITIES, FHRC HELPS 14 COUNTIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. DURING FY 2025, FIVE EMPLOYEES WORKED TO FULFILL GRANTS AND CONTRACTS THROUGH A HYBRID MODEL CONSISTING OF ON-SITE AND REMOTE ACTIVITIES. IN FY 2025, THE PUBLIC CONTACTED FHRC FOR DIVERSE HOUSING NEEDS, INCLUDING PLACEMENT ON HOUSING WAITING LISTS, SEARCHES FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO WOULD ACCEPT HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HABITABILITY, INCREASES IN RENTAL RATES, CODE ENFORCEMENT, EVICTIONS, LEASE TERMINATIONS WITHOUT PENALTIES, REQUESTING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS IN HOUSING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. HERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF FHRC'S FY 2025 SOCIAL IMPACT LEADING TO INCREASED HOUSING EQUALITY AND EQUITY: (1) THE INTAKE DEPARTMENT HELPED 261 FAMILY MEMBERS BY CONDUCTING 144 INTAKES, INCLUDING 20 NON-DISCRIMINATION INQUIRIES AND 124 DIVERSE ALLEGATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.(2) THE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM PROCESSED 124 ALLEGATIONS OF UNLAWFUL HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, REFERRED 12 COMPLAINTS TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, NEGOTIATED SIX SETTLEMENTS ADDRESSING ACCESSIBILITY, SOURCE-OF-INCOME, AND DISABILITY VIOLATIONS, AND ACHIEVED 20 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DISABLED POPULATION. (3) THE TESTING PROGRAM PRODUCED 190 TEST PARTS AND CONDUCTED TWO ZONING ORDINANCES AND FOUR BANK REDLINING INVESTIGATIONS. (4)THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM EDUCATED 482 PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC ON FAIR HOUSING AND LENDING POLICIES AND PRACTICES. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING FHRC TO WORK ON YOUR BEHALF.