Research Paper on Fair Housing Act

Effectiveness of the Policy

Based on the research literature, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) is significant in enhancing equality by minimizing discrimination in the housing sector. Over the last 50 years, the FHA Act has created a positive impact on the minority's group accessibility to housing ownership. The operation of the FHA policy is consistent with the ethical principles and standards of the NASW Code of ethics (Ethics & English, 2018). For instance, the policy aims at promoting equality among all people regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, or disabilities. This is consistent with the service and social justice aspects of the NASW ethical principles. In the housing industry, development of the FHA policy offers help to the needy and the less privileged people in the society. Moreover, it acknowledges the personal worth of the minority group in the United States. The FHA policy embraces the need to fight poverty and discrimination which is a core indicator of social justice ("Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers," 2018).

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Limitations of the Policy

While the FHA policy aims at enhancing better living standards for the minority group, it remains a problem in the United States. Ideally, even though a law exists, it does not mean that it is enforced effectively which is the case of the FHA policy ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018). By mentioning a fair housing act, it means that women, the disabled, the poor and the minority group members have an equal and fair opportunity to acquire and rent decent houses as compared to their counterparts. Nonetheless, this has not been the case in reality. Despite the amendment of the FHA policy, the cases of fair housing claims are happening regularly. There are still a proportion of racist people that condone discrimination by preventing the minority from accessing the housing of their choice. Currently, a small number of the black and Hispanics Americans have moved to the average income areas that are predominantly inhabited by the white Americans (Reardon, Fox & Townsend, 2015). A vast majority of the minority group still live within the isolated areas. A study by the Stanford University shows that to attain a racially balanced community, up to 90% of the blacks and Latino Americans need to move to average income housing (Reardon, Fox & Townsend, 2015). Besides, an average black or Latino family still resides in a neighborhood with poor living conditions as compared to the region where an average low-income white family lives (Reardon, Fox & Townsend, 2015).

Areas of Improvement

Following the limitations above, there is need to restructure the FHA policy such that it achieves the desired goals ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018). For instance, the federal government can implement a law that subjects the racists to strict disciplinary measures. This is enhanced by following the fair housing claims filed with the high court and ensuring justice is upheld. In this case, the government can develop a monitoring program that provides that all people in the housing industry conform to the FHA policy ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018).

Consequently, the implementation of the FHA policy aims at enhancing equality in the US population by reducing discrimination and promoting fairness therein. In this case, the minority group has an equal chance to acquire homes in the developed areas where the White families live. Nonetheless, it is an empty promise as the blacks and Latinos cannot afford to purchase and sustain these homes as their incomes are low ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018). Therefore, to enhance the effectiveness of the FHA policy, the government can establish strategies that not only fight discrimination but also improve equality in the household incomes among the minority group. This can be enhanced by creating employment opportunities for the high proportion of the unemployed members of the minority group. As a result, it increases their eligibility to afford better homes like the white families.

Additionally, the government can implement a minimum wage requirement that allows the minority group to earn a regular income that supports better living standards than it is in the segregated areas. The study by the Stanford University outlines that a higher proportion of the blacks, Latinos and Hispanics households earn low wages that cannot support an average living standard as compared to the White families (Reardon, Fox & Townsend, 2015). As a result, it raises the poverty levels among the minority group catalyzing the poor living standards in the segregated areas.

Moreover, the low levels of education among the minority group inhibit them from securing better and well-paying jobs. For this reason, they end up having poor jobs, low income, poor living standards, and eventually cannot afford to acquire decent homes in the developed cities in the United States (Reardon, Fox & Townsend, 2015). The federal government ought to amend the FHA policy such that it aims at boosting the education levels of the minority group members. More importantly, it is significant to monitor upon enforcing these rules and regulations to ensure that individuals conform and abide by them to ensure the effectiveness of the policy.

Ethical, Social and Economic Considerations of the FHA Policy

The implementation of the Fair Housing Act Policy considers the NASW code of ethics. The policy aims at protecting a buyer or a renter from discrimination while acquiring a home. Based on the NASW core ethical principles and standards, the FHA policy strives to boost the social integration among people in the United States ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018). In this case, the FHA Policy provides that social workers ought to provide service, maintain social justice, acknowledge the dignity and worth of every individual, recognize the significance of human relationships, practice integrity and competency ("Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers," 2018). The social workers in the housing sector should aim at offering service to all individuals without discriminating against any person based on color, gender, race, religion, nationality, or disabilities. Besides, employment procedure in housing should also be fair such that all employees stand an equal chance to secure a job therein.

The FHA policy maintains social justice by protecting the poor and less advantaged in the society. It aims at protecting the minority group from discrimination and thus attaining desegregation in the United States ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018). Ideally, a higher proportion of the minority group households' live in segregated areas with poor living conditions and poorly structured social amenities such as health and education. Implementing the FHA policy pursues social change especially in striving to bring equality and fighting for the vulnerable and oppressed groups in the society. In the case, the minority group continually suffers various forms of social injustice including indiscrimination, unemployment, poor education, and poverty ("Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers," 2018).

Moreover, the FHA policy acknowledges the dignity and the worth of every individual. The policy strives to promote equality in the housing sectors and thus giving each an equal chance to acquire a home. In this case, the FHA policy affirms that every person is equally important whether a black, Latino, Hispanic, or white. Therefore, the workers in the housing sector ought to acknowledge the cultural and racial diversity that exists among the population in the United States. Further, they should treat each person with respect and care ("Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers," 2018). The FHA policy also embraces the significance of building human relationships among the society ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018). Maintaining collaboration and unity among diverse populations boosts not only the personal development but also institutional, community and the development of the entire nation. Eradicating discrimination promotes unity and enables the people to build strong partnerships that support not only the growth of the housing industry but also the whole state. Besides, as more minority families record higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and poor living standards, the general economic development of the nation becomes retarded. Nevertheless, upon successful implementation of the FHA policy, there is an improvement in the employment levels, poverty and household income among the minority group. As a result, it boosts the economic development in the United States ("Fair Housing Sample Policies," 2018).

The NASW ethical codes further provide that social workers have to depict integrity and competence while pursuing their tasks ("Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers," 2018). In this case, upon following the FHA policy, social workers conform to the ethical requirements. Furthermore, adhering to the FHA policy is a core professional requirement for all workers in the housing sector. The social workers strive to avoid discrimination as a way to enhance their competence and integrity in their profession.

References

Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. (2018). Retrieved from https://socialwork.utexas.edu/dl/files/academic-programs/other/nasw-code-of-ethics.pdf

Ethics, C., & English, C. (2018). Code of Ethics: English. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/about/ethics/code-of-ethics/code-of-ethics-english

Fair Housing Sample Policies. (2018). Retrieved from https://tnmha.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/B1-MHI-Sample-Fair-Housing-Policies.pdf

Reardon, S., Fox, L., & Townsend, J. (2015). Neighborhood Income Composition by Household Race and Income, 1990-2009. The ANNALS Of The American Academy Of Political And Social Science, 660(1), 78-97. doi: 10.1177/0002716215576104