‘These are not just words’: DeKalb mayor signs National Fair Housing Month proclamation

DeKALB – DeKalb city officials and community housing leaders committed to fair housing practices for those who live there as the city’s mayor signed a proclamation in observance of National Fair Housing Month.

According to the proclamation, which DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith read aloud during the meeting, the City of DeKalb proclaimed to establish the community as an inclusive community committed to fair housing for all residents.

“Individuals in the State of Illinois have the right to choose where to live, purchase or rent property without discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, sex, familial status, marital status, national origin/ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, unfavorable military discharge and order of protection status,” the proclamation read.

Neeley Erickson, local governmental affairs director for private property rights advocacy group Illinois REALTORS®, said the group will not tolerate non-compliance to fair housing. She said a realtor who does not comply with those regulations could be fined thousands of dollars and could lose their license to practice real estate in any state forever.

“As an industry, we recognize our history and our involvement that contributed to both segregation and discrimination,” Erickson said. “We recognize we must continue efforts to affirmatively further fair housing because discrimination still exists today.”

Andrew Tillitson, who represents local environmental group Sunrise DeKalb, said he agreed with every word of the proclamation and he’s not disputing it being signed. However, Tillitson said there’s still a lot to be done “to make housing truly fair” in the city.

“In particular, there are many issues [for renters] here in DeKalb in terms of the water coming out brown and in terms of there being less than ideal conditions,” Tillitson said.

Tillitson said he has talked to many City Council members regarding those various issues and helping to educate tenants of their rights – like tenants saying to their landlords they are not paying rent until their unit has safe drinking water, for example. He said he hopes fair housing advocacy isn’t limited to just a month in the city.

“Because this is not a small problem,” Tillitson said. “I have seen pictures, quite frankly, that are disturbing, that are gross, and I know that no one who cares enough to run for public office wants to see in their city.”

DeKalb City Clerk-Elect and Annie Glidden North neighborhood resident Sasha Cohen said he agreed with Tillitson and the proclamation’s sentiment about how all residents should have equal housing.

“But words are cheap – words don’t mean much,” Cohen said. “If we can issue proclamations but can’t take the necessary steps to ensure that there is fair housing in the city, that people don’t live with 16 square feet of solid black mold on their living room wall, that people don’t have ceilings collapsing, that people feel safe going to sleep at night without having their doors tried to be kicked in, that people feel that they can go inside for the night without worrying if their landlord will illegally tow their vehicle – if we don’t have that, we don’t have fair housing in this city. And I question why we would want to proclaim this Fair Housing Month, rather than taking this month to focus on actual, tangible policy changes and policy solutions that will advance what allegedly is our shared goal of seeing fair housing in DeKalb.”

Smith said regarding the proclamation and in response to Cohen that “these are not just words.” He said the City takes comments regarding housing conditions for renters seriously and it’s important to the City to address housing issues, particularly related for its rental property residents.

“We appreciate your comments,” Smith said. “And we will work hard as your city government to do what we can so that those points that were proclaimed in the Fair Housing proclamation are, in fact, adhered to and we listen to the public.”