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Executive Director Comments
Dear Friend, http://housingrights.org/images/handswblack515.jpg
2008 is an important year. Now truly, they are all important, however, this year we have amazing opportunities before us. This year is the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination. It is also the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, which, for the first time made it illegal to discriminate in the private housing market. Housing discrimination was one of Dr. King's priorities before he died. The marches in Chicago in 1965 have been recorded through Photographs by Bernard J. Kleina (see below). We have the opportunity to reflect on the lessons of the past, celebrate our accomplishments and plan for the future.
We have an election coming up which has stirred up our country like no other. If nothing else, vote and encourage everyone around you to vote. Housing Rights, Inc. will be participating in a number of Get Out the Vote efforts.
We hope to see you during the next couple of months. Check out upcoming events and accomplishments below.
Save the Date
Power to the People! is the theme of this year's celebration. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Housing Rights, Inc. is recognizing the good work of:
- Nolo Press
- United Way of the Bay Area, Eden I&R and Contra Costa Crisis Services for their work in implementing 211
- Monument Community Partnership and Monument Futures for their work in transforming a community.
For more information about the Fair Housing Act down load "April is Fair Housing Month" (28KB PDF). An excerpt: "The Fair Housing Act was signed on April 11, 1968, just one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This landmark bill, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, resulted from the hard work and leadership of Dr. King and others in the civil rights movement and was an important step toward confronting discrimination against minorities in housing. Throughout the early 1960’s civil rights activists around the country petitioned Congress for a comprehensive fair housing law. However, it wasn’t until 1966, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led marches throughout the City of Chicago, that fair and open housing became a national topic."
And for information about other April is Fair Housing Month events open our Calendar. (154 KB PDF)
The celebration will take place on April 30th, 2008 at the Silver Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown, Oakland from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. If you would like to co-sponsor the event, place an advertisement in the tribute book or purchase tables download the application form (31KB PDF). Tickets will be $75.
©Photograph by Bernard J. Kleina.
Justice for 15 Families
Attorneys Robert Salinas of Sundeen Salinas & Pyle and Philip Rapier Settle Lawsuit Against Mobilehome Park in San Pablo for $520,000
For information contact: Robert Salinas, 510-663-9240; Philip Rapier, 510-444-6262; Wanda Remmers, Housing Rights Lawyer Referral Services, 510-548-8776 x310.
A lawsuit by 15 Latino families alleging that the Caucasian resident managers of the Alpine Mobilehome Park in San Pablo, California, repeatedly used racial slurs and intimidating behavior has been settled for $520,000.
For a copy of the press release click here.
Photographic Exhibit: Chicago Freedom Movement
April is Fair Housing Month and 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act.
In honor of the occasion the following groups are proud to sponsor a two week exhibition of photographs taken by Bernard J. Kleina during the Chicago ‘Open Housing’ marches of 1965-6. Bernie will join us on April 21st, opening day, for a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at the same location.
In Chicago in 1965 and 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders focused the Chicago Freedom Movement on open housing. Thousands of people participated in the marches and rallies in Soldier Field, Marquette Park, Grant Park and in front of Chicago City Hall.
This was the first large scale fair housing campaign in the country and the most ambitious civil rights campaign in the North. It placed the issue of equal opportunity in housing not just before the people of Chicago, but also before the Nation.
Mr. Kleina’s rarely seen color photographs document the 1965-66 Freedom Movement’s peaceful demonstrations’ call for open housing. The exhibit celebrates the efforts of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders and includes images of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Coretta Scott-King; the Rev. Jesse Jackson; former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador, Andrew Young; comedian activist, Dick Gregory; gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson; and former Southern Christian Leadership Council President, the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, as well as thousands of peaceful demonstrators involved in these historic rallies and marches. The photographs also capture many of those who attempted to disrupt these peaceful marches.
Click here for more information.
HRI Around Town
In addition to the April Events listed below check out Affordable Housing Week which is coordinated by EBHO in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and is scheduled for May 9 through 18. We are organizing a Free Housing Resource Fair through our Mt. Diablo Housing Opportunity Center in Concord.
You will find HRI staff at the following locations!
April is Fair Housing Month. Click here for a calendar of special events!
- APRIL 1st: Attorney Counseling Evening Sponsored by Housing Rights, Inc., Bay Area Legal Aid and the Contra Costa County Bar Association. Held at Bay Area Legal Services Richmond Office, 1025 McDonald Ave. from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 925-370-2548 or 510-233-9954 to reserve a place!
- APRIL 4th: 40th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination. Dr. King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray. James Earl Ray was arrested in London, England on June 8, 1968 and returned to Memphis, Tennessee to stand trial for the assassination of Dr. King. On March 9, 1969, before coming to trial, he entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to ninety-nine years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary. Dr. King had been in Memphis to help lead sanitation workers in a protest against low wages and intolerable conditions.
- APRIL 8th: Orientation for CC-Match at our newest program: Mt Diablo Housing Opportunity Center. CC-Match provides financial education courses and for some graduates of that course, access to a matched saving program (called an Individual Development Account).
- APRIL 11th: Passage of the Fair Housing Act. On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which was meant as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The 1968 act expanded on previous acts and prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap and family status. Title VIII of the Act is also known as the Fair Housing Act (of 1968).
The enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act on April 11, 1968 came only after a long and difficult journey. From 1966-1967, Congress regularly considered the fair housing bill, but failed to garner a strong enough majority for its passage. However, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson utilized this national tragedy to urge for the bill's speedy Congressional approval. Since the 1966 open housing marches in Chicago, Dr. King's name had been closely associated with the fair housing legislation. President Johnson viewed the Act as a fitting memorial to the man's life work, and wished to have the Act passed prior to Dr. King's funeral in Atlanta.
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APRIL 15th: Attorney Counseling Evening Sponsored by Housing Rights, Inc., Bay Area Legal Aid and the Contra Costa County Bar Association. Held at Monument Futures, 2699 Monument Blvd. #G, Concord from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 925-370-2548 or 510-233-9954 to reserve a place!
- APRIL 21st: Illinois artist (and Executive Director of HOPE Fair Housing Center in Wheaton Illinois) Bernard J. Kleina will be present for a reception in his honor and to kick off a two week exhibit of his photographs taken during the Chicago Freedom Movement in 1965-66. The reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Elihu Harris State Building at 1515 Clay Street in Downtown Oakland. All are welcome!
- APRIL 21st through May 2: The Chicago Freedom Movement Photography Exhibit by Bernard J. Kleina. During 1965 and 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders led peaceful demonstrations for ‘open housing’. This was the first large scale fair housing campaign in the county placing the issue of equal opportunity in housing before the Nation. These rarely seen photographs document and honor Dr. King and other civil rights leaders and include images of Dr. King, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Atlanta Mayor and UN ambassador Andrew Young, comedian and activist Dick Gregory, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, former Southern Christian Leadership Council President the Rev. Ralph Abernathy as well as thousands of peaceful demonstrators involved in these historic rallies and marches.
- APRIL 30th: Reception honoring: Nolo Press; the United Way of the Bay
Area, Eden I&R, and the Contra Costa Crisis Center for implanting 211 in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties; Monument Community Partnership and the Concord Community Economic Organization (DBA Monument Futures. These groups are being recognized for their work in bringing information and ’Power To The People’. The Reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. end by 8 p.m. at the Silver Dragon Restaurant in Oakland Chinatown.
For more information about our activities check out our website: www.housingrights.org/whatsnew/calendar.htm
Stomp Out Discrimination
Join us in “stomping” out discrimination
until difference no longer makes a difference
in a world where every child is smiling….
- Free from hunger
- Free from harm
- Free from homelessness
- Free from hate
Housing Rights, Inc. was founded in 1979 by a law student who could not find housing because she had young children. We are committed to seeing that that does not happened to others. Join us in fighting to uphold the ‘housing rights’ of everyone.
Our Goals with your help, are to eliminate discrimination in housing, prevent evictions/foreclosures and encourage diversity in our communities. We do this by assisting tenants and landlord, homeowners and housing providers to understand their rights and responsibilities and resolve problems, so that EVERYONE will have a real opportunity to live in decent, affordable housing wherever it may be located.
Your support will make it possible to keep our housing rights counseling services free to all who call...renters, homeowners, landlords and others for ANOTHER 25 YEARS!
Donations of time money and goods are welcome. If you want to combine your passion for recycling with supporting Housing Rights, Inc. bring us your used printer cartridges! HRI is recycling cartridges. (We receive a fee for each cartridge!
We are also collecting BART cards. BART will pay is the leftover amount on the cards. Each .05 or .10 adds up!Visit our website to learn more about how to donate to Housing Rights, Inc.: http://housingrights.org/joinourteam/donate.htm
Announcements
Housing Rights, Inc. staff have been working hard to prepare themselves to serve the many people who call us because of difficulties in paying their mortgage. Arlene Bradley recently completed certification through NeighborWorks in Foreclosure Counseling.
We would like to recognize the contribution of Daniel Brainich. He single handedly revise our old flyers and created new ones. His Work-Study position ended a few months ago. However, his hard work is paying off. If you would like an order form for our outreach material click here.
Welcome to Carmen Lopez who is serving as our VITA site Coordinator in our Concord office the Mt. Diablo Housing Opportunity Center. VITA site hours are Tuesday 12 noon to 4 pm, Thursday 4 to 8 pm. and Saturday 12 noon to 4 pm. This free tax preparation service for low income individuals is going great! Carmen is also helping out at the Center.
| MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to fight for equal access to housing for everyone
by eliminating barriers to housing choice such as discrimination,
sub-standard housing, ignorance, apathy and malice in order to
eradicate illegal housing discrimination, prevent evictions/foreclosures
and encourage diversity in our neighborhoods. |
