HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 33

RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2023 AS THE ANNUAL “NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, April 2023 marks the 55 ^th Anniversary of the enactment of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1968, which included among its provisions the federal Fair Housing law, and the 54 ^th Anniversary of Delaware’s Fair Housing Act; and

WHEREAS, it was the purpose of the Fair Housing Act to eliminate, as to housing offered to the public for sale or rent, discrimination based upon race, color, religion or national origin; and

WHEREAS, today protections against discrimination in housing are provided in the Delaware Fair Housing Act, Title 6, Chapter 46 of the Delaware Code; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Fair Housing Act has been amended from time to time since its enactment, and now additionally prohibits discrimination based on creed, sex, marital status, familial status, source of income, age, sexual orientation or disability; and

WHEREAS, legislation to amend the Delaware Fair Housing Act to prevent discrimination based on use of government rental assistance is pending; and

WHEREAS, discrimination in the sale or rent of housing is just one example of barriers some households face when trying to maintain stable housing in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Delaware has the 15th highest rental housing costs in the country; and

WHEREAS, approximately 76% of Delaware households are cost burdened with incomes below 30% of Area Median Income spend more than 50% of their monthly income on housing expenses; and

WHEREAS, the National Low Income Housing Coalition just released that Delaware has a shortage of 21,197 rental units that are affordable and available for extremely low-income renters; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,000 people sleep in homeless shelters and on the streets each night in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, as we recognize the annual National Fair Housing Month, there exists a continued need to address affordable housing, homelessness, and fair and equitable housing practices in the State of Delaware.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152 ^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the State of Delaware recognizes April 2023 as National Fair Housing Month in the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of April 2023 as “National Fair Housing Month” in the State of Delaware.