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1133408
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4/29/75 - Fair Housing Conference
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1133408
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document
title
4/29/75 - Fair Housing Conference
citationUrl
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
Speeches
subjects
Discrimination
Discrimination in housing
Revenue sharing
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1133408
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29
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1975-04-29
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4
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1975
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29
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1975-04-29
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4
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "4/29/75 - Fair Housing Conference" of
the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 1 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FAIR HOUSING CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 1975
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU TO THE PLENARY SESSION OF HUD's FAIR HOUSING CONFERENCE.
AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL WE AT HUD OPENED FAIR HOUSING
MONTH BY SIGNING A DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY OF OUR BUILDING TO
DOCUMENT OUR REDEDICATION TO THE POLICY OF EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY,
To CLOSE FAIR HOUSING MONTH IT IS FITTING THAT WE
SPONSOR A CONFERENCE WHICH FEATURES WORKSHOPS THAT SEEK
TO IMPLEMENT THE FAIR HOUSING CONCEPTS TO WHICH WE ARE
DEDICATED.
THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIR HOUSING CANNOT BE BROUGHT OUT
AND DUSTED OFF ONE MONTH EACH YEAR. THESE PRINCIPLES MUST
BE TAUGHT, ADVANCED, AND SUPPORTED EACH AND EVERY DAY OF
THE YEAR.
OUR NATION IS FOUNDED ON THE CONCEPT OF EQUALITY OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY CITIZEN, AND NO CONCEPT IS so BASIC
TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
LIBRARY
FORD
R.
GERALD
-2-
THE CIVIL RIGHTS AcT OF 1968 PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION
IN HOUSING ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION OR NATIONAL
ORIGIN. THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AcT OF 1974
PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING ON THE BASIS OF SEX,
THESE ENACTMENTS CONSTITUTE MAJOR STEPS FORWARD. BUT
THEY ARE A BEGINNING, NOT AN END; THERE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE
TO BE DONE,
As MR. JUSTICE MARSHALL STATED LAST YEAR IN HIS DIS-
SENTING OPINION IN MILLIKIN V. BRADLEY:
"RACIAL ATTITUDES ENGRAINED IN OUR NATION'S
CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE ARE NOT QUICKLY
THROWN ASIDE IN THE MIDDLE YEARS."
BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT SUCH ATTITUDES CAN BE CHANGED
WITH BOTH COMMITMENT AND EDUCATION.
LIGHT GERALD ? FORD
-3-
THERE IS MUCH PROMISE IN THE PHILOSOPHY EMBODIED IN
THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AcT OF 1974 WHICH
RETURNS THE PLANNING AND THE DECISION-MAKING THAT AFFECT
LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND TO THE
LOCAL CITIZENS, IT PROVIDES REVENUE-SHARING FUNDS TO THE
LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO CARRY OUT THEIR PLANS
AND DECISIONS,
THE AcT EMPOWERS THE SECRETARY OF HUD TO REDUCE OR
CUT OFF THESE REVENUE-SHARING FUNDS FROM ANY COMMUNITY
WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
DISCRIMINATION IN THE USE OF THESE FUNDS IS UNLAWFUL, AND
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL NOT HESITATE TO USE THE POWERS
ENTRUSTED TO ME UNDER THE AcT.
Yet EVEN THESE GOOD AND NECESSARY PROVISIONS IN THE
AcT WILL NOT GUARANTY EQUALITY UNLESS LOCAL CITIZENS ARE
MADE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN
THE PROPOSED USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING
ASSISTANCE FUNDS. FOR EDUCATION IS THE STRONGEST TOOL OF
A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY,
FORD = OTHOOD LIBRARY
-4-
AND EDUCATION IS THE GOAL OF THIS CONFERENCE ON FAIR
HOUSING. WE WANT FAIR HOUSING GROUPS TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY
AND IN AN INFORMED FASHION WITH ALL OTHER ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
IN THAT SPIRIT I WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO WASHINGTON AND
TO THIS CONFERENCE. I AM EXCITED BY WHAT IS BEFORE YOU,
I URGE YOU TO MAKE THE FULLEST USE OF THE WORKSHOP SESSIONS
AND TO TAKE HOME WITH YOU THE KNOW-HOW TO MAKE FAIR HOUSING
A REALITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
GOOD LUCK. I WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS.
THANK YOU,
QERALD Fl. FORD LIBRASH