Thursday, October 1, 2026
Affirming its commitment to equitable housing access, the Lacey City Council proclaimed April 2026 as Fair Housing Month at a meeting on Tuesday, April 7.
The proclamation cites fair housing protections in the Fair Housing Act, enacted on April 11, 1968, as federal legislation designed to eliminate racial segregation and end housing discrimination across the United States.
Among its provisions, the act bars housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status and national origin. It also requires recipients of federal funding to affirmatively further fair housing in their communities.
More than 50 years after the act's passage, discrimination persists and many communities remain segregated, the proclamation notes.
Acts of housing discrimination and barriers to equal housing opportunity, it added, run contrary to a common sense of decency and fairness.
All community members, businesses and organizations are encouraged to provide and advocate for equal housing opportunities.
Thurston County Realtors Association President Dawn Baker addressed the council following the issuance of the proclamation, reaffirming the association's commitment to fair housing practices. She acknowledged the real estate industry's history of exclusionary practices.
"The history of housing in this country, including within the real estate industry, includes practices that excluded, segregated and limited access to home ownership for many (peope)," she said. "We cannot change that history, but we can and must learn from it."
Baker said the association requires members to follow a code of ethics mandating equal professional service to all clients.
Members also undergo ongoing fair housing education, implicit bias training and programs aimed at expanding homeownership access across Thurston County.
To further that mission, the association will host the Thurston County Home Buying Expo on April 18 at the Olympia Center.
In partnership with local jurisdictions and community organizations, the event aims to connect aspiring homeowners with resources, education and support.
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Honestyandrealityguy
I hope they remember that most landlords have mortgages and they need their tenants to pay monthly, regardless of who they are.
Wednesday, April 8 Report this
Boatyarddog
JOB LESS percent in Seattle 5.2% , there is Your Economic Genius Success in AMERICA. **** Donald Trump
Wednesday, April 8 Report this
CobraCommander
Honestyandrealityguy, do you actually read these articles or just skim and whinge?
Looks like you've never faced discrimination before.
Thursday, April 9 Report this