Erie County Fair Housing Partnership
Who We Are
Welcome! The Erie County Fair Housing Partnership was created in 1997 as a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting equal opportunity in housing for all residents of Western New York. The Partnership has a diverse representation from various segments of the community including government, banking, real estate, legal services, advocacy groups and community organizations (see list of current members).
Through the commitment and collaborative efforts of its members, the Partnership has been successful in increasing public awareness regarding the importance of equal opportunity in housing. A variety of activities were conducted such as a Regional Fair Housing Conference, the Fair Housing Poster Contest, publication of the ground-breaking book DOTS – A Fair Housing Tale , and other fair housing seminars, workshops and training courses.
Fair Housing
In New York State, housing discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, familial status, military status or sexual orientation is illegal. Local municipalities may add additional fair housing protections. For example, in West Seneca and Hamburg, discrimination based upon lawful source of income is prohibited. Within the City of Buffalo, discrimination based upon gender identity and expression is unlawful.
Erie County Fair Housing Partnership Mission Statement
The mission of the Partnership is to increase the community's understanding of, and commitment to fair housing through outreach, education and the facilitation of dialogue. The partnership's goal is to increase awareness of fair housing rights and will help foster an understanding of why discrimination is harmful, and encourage equal and fair treatment in the sale or rental of housing.
Our vision is of a community free from fair housing discrimination.
Why Fair Housing is Important
Housing plays a large role in defining a person's quality of life. Where you live affects your access to social, cultural, educational and many other community amenities such as schools, transportation, employment, medical services, retail and professional services, recreational and entertainment opportunities and much more. Housing discrimination is an illegal obstacle to housing choice and denies people the opportunity to fully experience and enjoy the “American Dream” of choosing, owning and being responsible for their own house and home.
