Fair Housing Justice Center Inc

FHJC IS DEDICATED TO CHALLENGE SYSTEMIC HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, PROMOTING OPEN AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES, AND STRENGTHENING THE ENFORCEMENT OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAWS.

THE CORPORATION IS FORMED FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING RELIEF TO THE POOR, DISTRESSED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED, AND FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE PUBLIC GOOD THROUGH PROGRAMS TO LESSEN NEIGHBORHOOD TENSIONS, ELIMINATE PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION, TO DEFEND HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS SECURED BY LAW AND TO COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE CORPORATION SHALL PLAN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT:(A) CHALLENGE ILLEGAL HOUSING DISCRIMINATION:FHJC TESTING INVESTIGATIONS HAVE LED TO SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION THAT OPENED UP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS TO POPULATIONS PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED; RECOVERED MILLIONS IN DAMAGES AND PENALTIES TO VICTIMS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHANGED THE WAY THAT MANY HOUSING PROVIDERS DO BUSINESS.FHJC SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED DISCRIMINATORY RESIDENCY PREFERENCES, AND OTHER EXCLUSIONARY LAND-USE AND ZONING PRACTICES IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW YORK CITY REGION. (B) PROMOTE OPEN AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIESFHJC PRODUCED MAJOR POLICY REPORTS, INCLUDING: INCREASING ACCESS TO LOW-POVERTY AREAS BY CREATING MIXED-INCOME HOUSING, A NATIONAL REPORT PROVIDING CASE EXAMPLES OF MIXED-INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPED IN LOW-POVERTY AREAS. CHOICE CONSTRAINED, SEGREGATION MAINTAINED: USING FEDERAL TAX CREDITS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A REGIONAL REPORT EXAMINING THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS AND THE SITING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE NEW YORK CITY REGION.FHJC, IN CONJUNCTION WITH KAVANAGH PRODUCTIONS, PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED AN AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY ON HOUSING DISCRIMINATION CALLED A MATTER OF PLACE.(C) STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF FAIR HOUSING LAWSFHJC ESTABLISHED A UNIQUE AND EFFECTIVE FAIR HOUSING TESTING PROGRAM BY UTILIZING STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY AND HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL ACTORS TO PARTICIPATE IN FAIR HOUSING TESTING INVESTIGATIONS.FHJC BROUGHT THE FIRST FEDERAL LAWSUIT UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AGAINST A MAJOR BANK, ALLEGING RACE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION BASED PRIMARILY ON TESTING EVIDENCE. (D) CHANGE PEOPLES LIVES:FHJC ASSISTED WELL OVER A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO EXERCISE THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS TO COOPERATING ATTORNEYS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES.