Over the past year, federal agencies have scaled back fair housing oversight and cut off funding for private fair housing groups that are already stretched thin. But fair housing goes beyond federal policy; states can and should be furthering fair housing too.

Right now, the Massachusetts Legislature can take two major steps to promote equal access to housing in the Commonwealth:

1. Fund local fair housing organizations through the annual state budget
2. Pass a slate of pending fair housing bills

Nonprofit fair housing groups do essential work rooting out housing discrimination and providing legal services to victims. However, as federal funding decisions continue to limit these groups’ capacity and threaten their ability to keep their doors open, $2.5 million in state funding would help sustain their work in Massachusetts.

Passing state fair housing legislation is just as important. With HUD policy shifts threatening to erode longstanding federal fair housing protections, the Commonwealth must protect its residents. The state legislature is considering bills that would do so by:

• Ensuring civil rights groups can enforce anti-discrimination laws in state court (H.2098/S.1248).
• Toughening penalties for real estate brokers who discriminate (H.4457/S.2959)
• Removing discriminatory deed restrictions from state property records (S.1080)

Hearing from constituents like you can convince legislators to fund fair housing groups and pass these bills. This advocacy only takes a few minutes but can make a huge impact.

Contact your legislators today and urge them to support these fair housing priorities!