The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) Fair Housing Project hosts and participates in a statewide series of events and activities every April to honor Fair Housing Month. We do this through public education series, neighborhood discussions, virtual panels and art events to raise awareness about housing discrimination in Vermont and the positive role that inclusive, affordable housing plays in thriving communities. This year’s Fair Housing Month theme is Fair Housing: No Matter What! to emphasize the endurance of state and federal fair housing laws and reinforce our duty to take meaningful actions to overcome the legacy of segregation, unequal treatment, and historic lack of access to opportunity in housing.

This theme honors the origin of the Fair Housing Act and the history of civil rights in the United States. Regardless of political opinion, collective exhaustion, or community disengagement, fair housing laws still matter and are applicable, no matter what. This theme exhibits our dedication to fair housing education and outreach and our mission to prevent illegal housing discrimination and support those who are experiencing it. Whether someone is in active crisis or just wants to learn more about what fair housing truly is, implementation and enforcement of the Fair Housing Act is crucial. Everyone has membership in one or several protected classes at some point in their lives. Fair housing laws are meant to protect everyone. We must uphold these laws and the integrity of the fair housing act by remembering why enforcement is necessary for everyone to have access to sustainable housing.