SR0310 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0310 LRB095 12840 DRJ 38302 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the State of Illinois has as goals the elimination of poverty and of inequality; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, enunciates a national policy of Fair Housing without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and handicap, and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Human Rights Act further safeguards the rights of all citizens of this State to freedom from housing discrimination due to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status, sexual orientation, or unfavorable discharge from military service in connection with employment, real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public accommodations; and

WHEREAS, It is the policy of the State of Illinois to establish Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in all of its decisions, programs and activities and to eliminate the effects of past discrimination; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois' Annual Housing Plan identifies fair housing as a principal goal; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Fair Housing Act calls for affirmative action to further equal access to housing opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Provisions to affirmatively further fair housing are principal and long-standing components of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the Community Development Block Grant program, and require that recipients, including the State of Illinois, certify that they conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing and affirmatively further fair housing; and

WHEREAS, In spite of modest progress, segregation in housing, due in large measure to ongoing discrimination, is well-documented in the Chicago region and throughout Illinois, and research finds that opportunities to access the Chicago regional housing market varies for different racial and minority groups, including those with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Other problems of poverty and inequality that the State wishes to ameliorate are exacerbated or reinforced by existing patterns of segregation; and

WHEREAS, Illegal barriers to equal opportunity in housing, no matter how subtle, that diminish the rights of some of our citizens diminish the rights of all of our citizens; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that in the pursuit of the goal and responsibility of providing fair and equal housing opportunities for all, the State of Illinois, in all housing, community development, and economic development grants and programs, shall promote fair housing, enforce fair housing laws, and apply an affirmative standard to ensure compliance with State and federal requirements; and be it further

RESOLVED, That members of the Illinois Senate are urged to attend and participate in public hearings on the subject of fair and equal housing opportunity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That local stakeholders, including governmental officials, community-based organizations, and fair housing organizations, are encouraged to attend the hearings; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate Committee on Housing and Community Affairs shall prepare and deliver a report of findings and recommendations to affirmatively further State programs based on information collected at the public hearings to the Illinois Senate and to the Governor no later than February 1, 2008.