The Pennsylvania Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will convene a series of public, web-based meetings to discuss the impact of Fair Housing Access and Zoning Practices in Pennsylvania. The Committee will examine the impact of zoning laws, municipal nuisance laws, crime-free housing ordinances, and related fair housing concerns on disparities based on race, color, disability status, national origin, age, religion, sex and/or familial status. The Committee will examine the extent to which specific state or local policies and practices may contribute to identified disparities, as well as alternative practices or recommendations with the demonstrated potential to address such concerns.
The second meeting will take place:
Friday April 22, 2022, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
Online registration at: https://bit.ly/3BnT4nS
Telephone access (audio only): 800-360-9505; Access code: 2760 963 7104
The Committee will hear testimony from academic experts, community leaders, advocates, lawyers, and housing and government officials. Members of the public will be invited to speak during an open comment period near the end of each meeting. This is an ongoing study and additional panels may be scheduled throughout Summer of 2022. The Committee will accept written testimony submitted to mwojnaroski@usccr.gov throughout the duration of the study.
Closed captions will be provided. Individuals requiring other accommodations should contact the regional program unit at (202) 618-4158 five business days prior to the meeting to make their request.
Committee Chair Steve Irwin states, “sadly, it appears that discrimination in housing opportunity persists, and that certain laws in place either perpetuate racial disparities or are not sufficiently
enforced to prevent these unacceptable outcomes. I am very happy that the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee is committing to investigate this situation more thoroughly and look forward to reporting our findings & recommendations to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.”
The Pennsylvania Advisory Committee will issue findings and recommendations in a report to the Commission after all testimony has been received.
(202) 618-4158
mwojnaroski@usccr.gov