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Accusations have been brought against the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Secretary Ben Carson to pull back on enforcement of fair housing. Paula Johnson, a professor of law at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College of Law offers insight on this issue and the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act that will be celebrated in April.

“It is outrageous to even fathom that the current secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has taken steps to remove the core function of this department – to enforce the lawÌýagainst segregation and exclusionÌýand promote fair housing opportunities across the United States.Ìý Racial discrimination in rental, public, and private housing remains rampant in this country,” said College of Law ProfessorÌý

“Housing security has a positive impact on future social and economic opportunities, while the lack of housing security can have deleterious effects on people’s health, social and economic well-being.ÌýBen Carson,Ìýan African American himself, was givenÌýthe opportunity for a safe andÌýsecureÌýupbringing through the availability of public housing in Detroit. ThisÌýmakes hisÌýdecision to have theÌýDepartment of Housing and Urban Development rollbackÌýfederal efforts to enforce fair housing laws almostÌýincomprehensible, almost. No doubt Carson wasÌýencouraged by his boss, President Trump, who has his own personal history of housing discriminationsÌýagainstÌýBlacks.”

“Racial segregation in American neighborhoods and schools are at pre-Brown v. Board of EducationÌýlevels.Ìý Affordable housing isÌýincreasinglyÌýscant and homelessness has risen concomitantly.Ìý Black and Brown families bear the brunt of this discrimination and lack ofÌýhousingÌýopportunities.Ìý Housing is a basic human need, and one that a just, fair,Ìýand humane society would commit to providing for all citizens.Ìý To do otherwise, is base and inhumane at best” said Johnson.

“The Fair Housing Act turns 50 on April 11 and severalÌýlawsuits have already been filed in opposition to these efforts to dismantle the historic civil rights legislation. Rest assured there will be more suits to ensure equal rights for all citizens of this nation not just the ones judged worthy.”

Reporters looking to contact Prof. Johnson on this issue should contact Scott McDowell,ÌýExecutive Director ofÌýRegional Strategic Communications, at semcdowell@syr.edu or 212-826-0320.