April is National Fair Housing Month

Each April, Fair Housing Month commemorates the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. This major legislation sought to put an end to housing discrimination of all kinds—although many believe discrimination has only become more subtle in the decades since that time.

The Fair Housing Council of Oregon celebrates Fair Housing Month by organizing at least one major community event. This year, they’ve teamed up with Portland Center Stage to present a special performance of Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris on Thursday, April 18th.

Clybourne Park is a new play that tells the story of a 1950s neighborhood that splinters over the black family about to move in, and compares it to the present day when the same house represents very different demographics, neighborhood values, and tensions. Decades apart, neighbors battle over territory and legacy that forces viewers to consider how far ideas about race have evolved.

Tickets to the April 18th performance are $75 and include a pre-show reception including refreshments, and a post-show discussion. Contact Justin Taylor with Fair Housing Council of Oregon at (503) 223-8197 x111 if you’d like to attend.

Read More About Fair Housing History:
• “History of Fair Housing” by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Fair Housing History and The Way It Was by Jo Becker, Fair Housing Council of Oregon Education/Outreach Specialist