Fair Housing Month

April is National Fair Housing Month and it's important to remember that while we have come along way in equalizing housing, there are still challenges we face.

The real estate industry in Minnesota dates back to the late 1800s, when the state began experiencing rapid population growth due to immigration and urbanization. During this time, real estate developers began building housing communities throughout the state, including the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

However, many of these communities were built with restrictive deed covenants, which stipulated that only people of a certain race or ethnicity could live there. These covenants were meant to prevent integration and maintain segregation in housing.

This system of segregation persisted for several decades, despite efforts by civil rights activists to challenge it. It wasn't until the 1960s that the federal government began passing legislation to prohibit racial discrimination in housing, including the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

Today, Minnesota has made significant strides towards promoting fair housing and combating housing discrimination. This includes the creation of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which enforces housing discrimination laws and works to promote equal access to housing for all residents.

Overall, the history of the real estate industry in Minnesota is closely intertwined with the struggle for fair housing and the ongoing fight against discriminatory practices.