Third Quarter 2022

If you have any calls or concerns regarding fair housing rights within Northern Alabama, please call our office at (205) 324-0111 or come see us at

1820 7th Avenue N., Suite 110 Birmingham, AL 35203

A Note from the Executive Director

Greetings!

With the end of the year fast approaching, we are doing all within our power to make certain that complaints of alleged housing discrimination are investigated and resolved as quickly as possible. No one should have to experience illegal evictions, denials of reasonable accommodations or any other form of discrimination during a season centered around peace, joy and love, or any other time of the year. But the reality is, 49 years after the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act, unlawful housing acts still occur. Recently, we have begun to receive complaints addressing appraisal bias and sexual orientation discrimination. These cases are just as devastating as denials based upon race, national origin, disability, familial status and or religion. In essence, denial of housing under any circumstance is an atrocity. Yet, with all of the laws governing equal access to housing, we continue to receive complaints, and uncover discrimination through testing. The fight is still alive, our work continues. We look forward to the day when housing discrimination is a thing of the past.

The year 2023 will be an important one in the history of fair housing. The center will celebrate 30 years of serving the residents of the northern portion of our state, the 55th anniversary of the fair housing act and the 55th commemoration of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Truly we are excited and look forward to a number of activities in the upcoming year. We hope you will join our excitement and plan to participate in many activities. With all of this in mind, we ask that you remember the center in your end of the year giving. Your financial support will be greatly appreciated by the center and many of its complainants.

We hope none of you face housing discrimination, but in the event you or someone you know is a victim, please have them contact the center for immediate assistance.

Harvest Blessings to You and Yours,

Lila Hackett

This PSA is especially for our friends in Florida rebuilding their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

News of the Board of Directors

We are happy to introduce the newest member of our Board of Directors, Senia Johnson. Ms. Johnson is a realtor with Keller Williams Realty. She is the President-Elect of the Alabama Association of Realtors, and a recent member of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Association of REALTORS. She has also done extensive work for the Women's Council of REALTORS including receiving the accolade of Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, serving as its Alabama President in 2017, and serving as the Region 7 Regional Vice President in 2018. Her professional designations include: ABR - Accredited Buyer's Representative, CRS - Certified Residential Specialist, GRI - Graduate, REALTOR Institute, PMN - Performance Management Network, SFR - Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource, SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist and AHWD - At Home with Diversity.

In her words, she is, "Excited and looking forward to being a part of Fair Housing Center of Northern Alabama. Home ownership is an American dream everyone is entitled to achieve." We are certain that her expertise in the real estate industry will be a huge asset to the FHCNA Board of Directors. Welcome Senia Johnson!!

Get Out Your Calendars

The FHCNA is busy working on the activities for 2023! Since it will be our 30th birthday, it will be an even more special year. Please put the following events on your calendars.

The Problem of Appraisal Bias

Last year on the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, President Biden made a speech announcing the formation of the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE). The work of this important task force was made public in March of this year and identifies a set of reforms to begin to deal with the problematic issue of appraisal bias.

But what is it? Appraisal bias is when, in the process of buying, selling, or refinancing a home an appraiser gives the home a lower valuation based on discriminatory reasons. While this might seem harmless, over time it has a major impact on the ability of people to not only buy or refinance a home but also to gain wealth on the equity of the home. Studies show time and again that this practice is a huge contributor to the racial wealth gap and the well-being of people in minority communities. There is a significant wealth gap in this country between white families and non-white families - today the median white American family has roughly eight times as much wealth as a Black family and five times the typical Latino family. Two of the greatest driving factors of these startling statistics is the low percentage of minorities who own their own homes and the undervaluing of minority-owned homes.

Recognizing and mitigating appraisal bias is the new frontline to begin to break this damaging inequitable reality. When minority communities equitably gain access to loans, increase home ownership, and have their homes priced fairly, the economic impact will be significant and will begin to stabilize families and bring a more secure living situation for tens of thousands of people. Beyond the impact to individuals and families, homeownership also makes neighborhoods and communities stronger. Appraisal bias creates unneeded and unfair roadblocks to home ownership to minority communities and it's time to address this issue.

As the PAVE report explains, "A home appraisal is a critical element of the homebuying and lending process, intended to provide an independent, fair, and objective estimate of the market value of a property so that lenders can accurately evaluate risk."

If you feel you have been a victim of Appraisal Bias in the homebuying or refinancing process, please call our office at 205-324-0111.

Read More about PAVE

Success Stories

In August, a white, disabled male called the office in need of help. He had just been denied a lease due to his criminal record and he was beginning to lose hope of finding a place that would accept him.

Even though people with conviction histories are not considered a 'protected class,' people with criminal backgrounds are, none the less, given some protection under Fair Housing principles. Because of the disproportionate impact of the legal system on Black and Latino people and people with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognizes criminal background screenings may violate the Fair Housing Act. Housing providers can use criminal background checks but are explicitly cautioned that using a blanket ban or using overly broad screening categories and practices are likely violating Fair Housing Act provisions barring discrimination based on race, color or disability status.

Luckily for our client, after testing and further investigation, FHCNA was able to mediate the issue and the tenant was allowed to lease an apartment at the complex where he was originally denied. He was very grateful for the help he received.

If you have a criminal background and have any questions about discrimination, call our office for clarification. 205-324-0111

The FHCNA was able to continue its work during the World Games which was held in Birmingham for ten days in July. Since our offices are located just behind City Hall in the heart of the City Center, we were in a district which was highly restricted for security reasons. Although we were a little inconvenienced by our building being locked and our cars being delayed due to checkpoints, we were excited to be in the center of the action.

Luckily the games went off without any incidents and lots of praise. Our home-city of Birmingham and the state of Alabama were in the world's spotlight, and they looked their best!! Congratulations to the City of Birmingham for pulling off this worldwide event and making us all proud.