Mesa Mayor John Giles has proclaimed that April 2022 be Fair Housing Month and encourages all agencies, individuals and institutions in Mesa — public and private — abide by the letter and the spirit of the Fair Housing Act.

In April, the community and nation celebrate Fair Housing Month, with April 11 marking the 54th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which sought to eliminate discrimination in housing opportunities and affirmatively further housing choices for all Americans, according to a release.

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 guarantees that housing in Mesa and throughout the U.S. should be made available to all citizens without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, and disability, and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens

“The city of Mesa is committed to support programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing opportunities,” Mayor Giles said in the release. “We will continue to promote housing equality and partner with other organizations to help assure every resident in Mesa has a right to fair housing.”

The city of Mesa’s support includes awarding Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnership Program, Emergency Solutions Grant and Human Services funding to various nonprofit organizations to administer housing-related activities. Some of these agencies include House of Refuge, Adopt a Home Program; Community Legal Services, Advocacy and Education; Maggie’s Place, Shelter Services at the Hannah House; A New Leaf, East Valley Men’s Emergency Shelter; Child Crisis of Arizona, Caring for Homeless Children; City of Mesa, Housing Rehabilitation Program; Community Bridges and City of Mesa’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Programs; and Chrysalis Shelter, Domestic Violence Services.

The city of Mesa also provides assistance, information and materials regarding Fair Housing questions and complaints at mesaaz.gov/residents/housing/fair-housing.