Fair Housing Act’s legacy honored amid housing crisis

In April 1968, a new law promised fair housing for all. Decades later, the fight for equal access to housing is still ongoing.

This April marks the 57^th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act. It’s a piece of legislation that helps stop housing discrimination by banning unfair treatment based on race, religion, disability and more.

The law was a step forward, but advocates say the battle for fair housing continues. Rising home prices, lack of affordable housing stock and discrimination remain challenges.

“The cost of housing has risen dramatically in the last five to 10 years,” said Matthew McColl, marketing and public information director at SC Housing. “And paired with higher interest rates, it’s making homeownership difficult for many.”

The state’s growing population only will increase demand, McColl said.

“It’s the availability of housing, and that’s something that goes back … probably more about 20 years ago,” he said.

SC Housing focuses on encouraging the development of “workforce housing,” affordable housing for people living and working in South Carolina’s growing metro areas.

Attorney Sue Berkowitz, director of policy at South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, raised concerns about affordability and access, particularly for low-income tenants.

“I do think that there is still redlining,” Berkowitz said of banks loaning money for homes in only certain neighborhoods. “I think there is still steering away from certain housing communities. (As for housing that is available), you know, we’ve seen some real problems with quality of housing.”

As far as renters are concerned, South Carolina remains one of the states with the highest eviction rates in the country.

“It’s not to say that it’s only communities of color that are impacted,” she said. “But when you look at their data, especially in the rural communities, … there’s a real lack of quality affordable housing in those areas.”

Berkowitz said federal funding is dwindling while the state lacks resources to compensate.

“Once the federal dollars stop coming in, South Carolina doesn’t have the state dollars to make up for it,” she said. “I think we’re going to see, you know, a real ripple effect, and even affecting people with means.”

Tenants, meanwhile, often hesitate to speak up due to fear of retaliation.

“If you make too many waves, you could lose your housing, because we don’t have the strongest landlord tenant law,” Berkowitz said.

Kenni Cummings, executive director of the South Carolina Tenant Union, said recent legislative progress offers reason for hope. The passage of South Carolina Bill S.2 streamlines disability services and expands housing access.

But “just because something has passed does not mean that it’s going to get implemented,” Cummings said. “And so now we (will) see how the bill will be actually implemented.”

Cummings said they hear from tenants in federal housing programs who report discrimination from the systems meant to help.

“We are so grateful for programs that house people,” they said. “But people are facing discrimination from the programs that are supposed to be supporting them.”

Fair Housing protections remains critical in addressing these injustices. Still, shrinking budgets and staffing shortages at HUD aren’t good.

“The future of fair housing in South Carolina has a definite question mark next to it,” Cummings said.

The South Carolina Tenant Union plans to continue its educational efforts moving forward.

“I think people should be educating themselves on evictions,” Cummings said. “Particularly, I’m encouraging South Carolinians to understand what that impact is.”