Oregon state Republicans call for stricter enforcement of fair housing laws

A study by an Oregon fair-housing audit firm detailing widespread housing discrimination in Portland has compelled Oregon lawmakers to put pressure on the state attorney general and labor commissioner, and the city’s commissioner, to go after the documented offenders.

The report, first released on Monday by the Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO), shows that in 50 undercover evaluations of how landlords and leasing agents responded to minority and Caucasian housing inquiries, there were 32 instances of discriminatory behavior.

A strongly-worded letter with the signatures of the Republican Senate Caucus, currently in the minority, made public Thursday read (PDF), “We, the Senate Republican Caucus, are asking that you prioritize enforcement of these statutes, citing, and where appropriate, prosecuting individuals who violate the civil rights of another.”

The senators also wrote in the letter, “It is a sobering reminder that the scourge of racism was not defeated in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. We must continue to be alert to its presence and meet its ugly symptoms with intention and ferocity.”

City Commissioner Nick Fish, who oversees Portland’s housing bureau, has responded to lawmaker outrage by announcing his office will pursue legal action but did not give a time frame.

Some of the discriminatory actions include:

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.americanindependent.com/portland-housing-details.jpgSource: The Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO)