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The Consequences of Housing Discrimination
Letter to the Editor of the St. Petersburg Times by Commissioner Watson Haynes
RE: The Nation:s Housing: AIG settlement comes down hard on discriminatory fees
The purchase of a home is an accomplishment that many people work towards in achieving the American dream. Sadly, however, that dream is turning into a nightmare as ballooning rates and job losses have forced people into foreclosure. These aren’t the only circumstances that can prevent homeownership from happening. During the economic crisis, predatory lending has become all too common in Florida and must be stopped.
Predatory lending is when a person is given different terms and conditions during the purchase of a home, or denied a loan all together because of their race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex or familial status. The number of predatory lending cases that the Florida Commission on Human Relations has investigated in the last five years continues to rise.
April is Fair Housing Month and I want to encourage everyone to learn their legal housing rights during this time of reflection and celebration. When individuals arm themselves with information, they are able to recognize unfair housing practices and take the necessary action steps to address them. If you see housing discrimination happening to others, please don’t ignore it. Share any knowledge you have about discrimination with others. Join me in putting a stop to housing discrimination in Florida.
