Mayor Wilson proclaims April 2026 Fair Housing Month

In accordance with this acknowledgement, we recognize:

Whereas, the Fair Housing Act, enacted on April 11, 1968, was adopted to prohibit discriminatory housing practices, undo racial segregation patterns, and provide equal access to housing opportunity for all; and

Whereas, in Portland, the combined Federal, State, and local civil rights laws protect people from housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, source of income, military status, gender identity, ethnicity, or history of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault; and

Whereas, decades of intentional and unintentional government action, combined with enduring systemic inequities, have created a need for displacement prevention and mitigation policies; and

Whereas, despite existing fair housing protections and strategies, Portland residents continue to face unequal access to safe, quality housing opportunities and unequal outcomes due to treatment and systemic circumstance; and

Whereas, Portland not only continues to invest in affordable housing for impacted communities, and to push for fair housing enforcement, education and testing, but commits to strategies that prevent unfair displacement; and

Whereas, Portland acknowledges the past harm and displacement our policies have caused, and affirmatively furthers fair housing by taking direct action; and

Whereas, Fair Housing month is an opportunity to reflect on our progress towards equal access and to acknowledge the many challenges we have yet to overcome; and

Whereas, we celebrate the passage of the Fair Housing Act by committing ourselves to eliminating dis-crimination in housing; we acknowledge the intersection of health, economic and housing inequities; we understand and commit to adopting policies that support our community's most vulnerable residents; and ensure housing in community welcomes and celebrates people of all abilities, races, and cultures;

Now, therefore, I, Keith Wilson, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the "City of Roses," do hereby pro-claim April 2026 to be Fair Housing Month in Portland and encourage all residents to observe this month by joining the citywide effort to realize equal housing opportunity for all.