Building Equity: New York’s Ongoing Fair Housing Legacy
Each April, we celebrate Fair Housing Month and the progress our nation has made in expanding equitable access to housing for all. This year, we highlight the New York Metro region’s role as a pioneer in fair housing efforts and how commitment to equitable housing continues to evolve and strengthen in the Empire State.
In the early 20th century, discriminatory practices like redlining and blockbusting shaped housing patterns in New York and across the United States. Banks and insurers, often backed by federal policy, labeled many black and immigrant neighborhoods as “hazardous.” As a result, they denied residents access to mortgages and investment.
At the same time, developers in suburban areas like Long Island excluded people of color from new housing opportunities. These actions created patterns of segregation that still affect communities today.
Levittown stands as one of the most well-known examples. Developers, supported by Federal Housing Administration policies, used restrictive covenants to block Black families from buying homes. Some leases even limited occupancy to “members of the Caucasian race.” Together, federal policy and private practices reinforced segregation and limited opportunity.
Despite these barriers, New York City emerged as an early leader in fair housing reform. Long before Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, the city took meaningful steps to expand access.
In 1927, New York became home to the nation’s first housing cooperative. Labor leader Abraham Kazan later built on that momentum by founding the United Housing Federation in 1951. He aimed to transform deteriorating housing into affordable cooperative communities. His efforts led to large-scale cooperative housing developments, including major projects in Manhattan during the early 1960s.
Over the past decade, New York has entered a new phase of fair housing progress. Policymakers have strengthened protections and expanded access through targeted reforms.
The Fair Chance for Housing Act, which took effect on January 1, 2025, limits how housing providers can use criminal history in tenant screening. In 2020, the city launched the “Where We Live NYC” initiative to identify barriers to housing access. Officials released a comprehensive plan in 2025 outlining strategies to address those challenges.
Today, OneKey MLS proudly stands with those who continue to advance equitable housing across the state. Leaders throughout the region remain focused on improving affordability and expanding access. Their work positions New York as a model for sustained progress.
This Fair Housing Month—and every day—we encourage real estate professionals, community partners, and residents to stay informed and take an active role in promoting inclusive housing practices.
Together, we can build on this legacy and ensure that fair and equitable housing opportunities continue to grow for all.