Every April, National Fair Housing Month reminds us that access to housing should be fair, consistent, and free from discrimination. The month commemorates the Fair Housing Act, which was signed into law on April 11, 1968, and remains one of the most important civil rights protections in housing today.
How Fair Housing Month Started
National Fair Housing Month is observed each April because that is when the Fair Housing Act became law. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, including the Fair Housing Act, on April 11, 1968.
The law was passed during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. HUD continues to recognize April as Fair Housing Month as a time to reflect on the law’s significance and the ongoing importance of equal housing opportunity.
Why Fair Housing Still Matters
The Fair Housing Act established a national policy of fair housing and made housing discrimination unlawful. More than five decades later, its purpose remains just as relevant.
Housing affects access to schools, jobs, transportation, healthcare, and opportunity. Fair housing practices help ensure that decisions are based on clear, legitimate criteria rather than bias, assumptions, or unequal treatment.
Why It Matters to Us at New Age Realty Group
As a family-owned, full-service property management company and licensed real estate brokerage serving Philadelphia since 1986, we understand how important it is to approach leasing and property management with consistency, professionalism, and respect.
Philadelphia is made up of diverse neighborhoods and residents with different needs, backgrounds, and goals. In a market like this, fair housing is essential. It means marketing properties responsibly, applying screening standards consistently, communicating clearly, and treating prospective and current residents equitably throughout the leasing and management process.
Fair Housing and Property Management
For our industry, fair housing does not begin and end with a lease application. It applies across the full resident experience, from the way a listing is written to the way inquiries are handled, showings are conducted, applications are reviewed, and maintenance or lease matters are addressed after move-in.
That is why National Fair Housing Month matters. It gives all of us in property management an opportunity to revisit best practices, review policies, and recommit to the idea that housing should be accessible and fair.
Looking Ahead
At New Age, we believe strong property management is built on more than efficiency. It also depends on fairness, consistency, and accountability. National Fair Housing Month is a meaningful time to reflect on that responsibility and on the role housing professionals continue to play in supporting equal opportunity across Philadelphia.