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Toledo Fair Housing Center Recognizes Supreme Court Victory
for Equal Opportunity
Decision Protects Americans from Unfair Housing Practices
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court preserved a critical tool
in the enforcement of fair housing in Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities
Project, Inc. In a 5-4 ruling, the Court reaffirmed the
continuing importance of disparate impact, a key component
of the Fair Housing Act which seeks to eliminate
discriminatory housing practices that may be less apparent,
but nevertheless have a detrimental effect. The decision
upholds 45 years of legal precedent, and protects the
principles of diversity and opportunity that are central to
America’s identity.
Michael Marsh, President/CEO of Toledo Fair Housing Center,
issued the following statement in response to this ruling:
“This is a tremendous victory for equal opportunity, and for
the future of Northwest Ohio and our nation. A strong and
effective Fair Housing Act will continue to move our
country beyond a legacy of segregation and discrimination
and toward opportunity for all. The Court recognizes the
necessity of adopting inclusive practices that will lead to
diverse, prosperous communities. This Supreme Court ruling
will be instrumental in holding big banks accountable for
their unfair lending practices that have had debilitating
consequences for our local economy in recent years. That’s
why many of them fought so hard to dismantle it.
Today’s decision is an endorsement of our efforts to
eliminate barriers to fair housing, and ensure all
individuals throughout Northwest Ohio have equal access to
housing opportunities. We look forward to working with
housing professionals and government leaders to enact
policies that support housing free of discrimination.
Housing opens the door to other opportunities, including
quality education, employment options, and access to
services and transportation. In creating inclusive
communities of opportunity, Toledo Fair Housing Center seeks
to improve quality of life by expanding access to housing.”
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