Fair Housing: How To Participate All Year

Every April, the National Association of REALTORS® recognizes Fair Housing Month, commemorating the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. The law was enacted shortly after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and marked a major step forward in ensuring equal access to housing opportunities for all Americans.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on seven protected classes, including race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. While progress has been made over the past five decades, fair housing remains a vital issue in communities across the country. Housing demand, migration patterns, and new development continue to reshape fast-growing Sarasota and Manatee counties. Real estate professionals play a key role in ensuring that every buyer, seller, renter, and homeowner is treated with equal professionalism and respect.

We have an opportunity to not only champion this historical observance, but also practice daily our responsibility to uphold fairness, professionalism, and integrity in housing. In doing so, we strengthen our local industry by building public trust and ensuring a future as trusted advisors for prospective homeowners. We are empowered to help shape how our communities grow and who has access to them.

5 Ways to Support Fair Housing in Sarasota & Manatee Counties

1 | Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

Join a volunteer build day with Habitat for Humanity Sarasota or Habitat for Humanity Manatee County. These organizations work with local families to create affordable homeownership opportunities. Participating in a build is a hands-on way for real estate professionals to support access to housing while strengthening communities.

2 | Support Housing Legal Assistance Programs

Legal Aid of Manasota provides free legal services to individuals and families facing housing challenges such as eviction, landlord-tenant disputes, and foreclosure. Supporting their programs through volunteer work, fundraising, or awareness efforts helps protect housing stability for vulnerable residents.

3 | Participate in Fair Housing Education

The National Association of REALTORS® offers educational resources designed to help REALTORS® recognize how fair housing laws apply to real-world situations, including programs that provide practical training to strengthen professionalism and ensure equal service to all clients. Many of these can be found at https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing.

4 | Engage in Local Housing Initiatives

Stay involved in housing discussions through programs and events hosted by the REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee. Attending housing forums, policy discussions, and community initiatives allows real estate professionals to contribute to conversations about housing availability and affordability in the region.

5 | Raise Awareness in Your Network

Fair housing advocacy can begin with simple actions. Sharing educational resources, displaying Equal Housing Opportunity materials, and using appropriate language in marketing all reinforce the REALTOR® commitment to fairness and professionalism.

Working together through education, volunteerism, and professional leadership helps ensure that housing opportunities remain open and accessible to everyone in Sarasota and Manatee counties. As real estate professionals, our commitment to fair housing strengthens trust in our industry and helps build thriving communities.

Fair Housing Education Starts Here

Staying informed is one of the most impactful ways to uphold Fair Housing in your daily business. Whether you're looking to meet NAR requirements or strengthen your knowledge in real-world scenarios, ongoing education ensures you’re serving every client with fairness, professionalism, and confidence.

All REALTORS® are required to complete 2 hours of Fair Housing training every three years as part of Cycle 8, with a deadline of December 31, 2027. Taking classes throughout the cycle makes it easy to stay compliant while building valuable skills you can apply every day.

The REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee offers a variety of Fair Housing classes throughout the year, both in-person and Webinar, designed to keep you compliant and informed.

Explore upcoming Fair Housing classes and register today.