The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have partnered to launch the #WelcomeMe #FairHousingMatters selfie challenge to raise awareness of housing discrimination.
“The Fair Housing Act was passed more than 50 years ago to outlaw discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability and familial status,” the NCRC’s webpage for the challenge reads. “And yet housing discrimination still occurs across the U.S. on a daily basis.”
The challenge asks the question: “What does it mean to have a home where you feel welcomed free from discrimination?” It encourages participants to post a selfie or video of themselves from a place where they feel welcome and tell or show how that feels.
“It’s time to drive discrimination out of housing once and for all and replace it with a welcome and open door to housing everywhere,” NCRC’s Chief Communications & Marketing Officer Andrew Nachison said. “We’re challenging everyone with a mobile phone and a social media account to show and tell their story and make this message loud and clear across the nation. We’re also offering prizes to thank some participants.”
“All people deserve to live in housing free from discrimination,” said Demetria McCain, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity. “We applaud NCRC’s efforts to engage the public and celebrate our nation’s fair housing laws.”
Each post using the two hashtags will be entered into a contest. The ten winners chosen by NCRC – assessed on social engagement, creativity, and overall fair housing message – will win complementary tickets to NCRC’s 2023 Just Economy Conference, as well as a complimentary two-night stay for the conference and a Just Economy swag box.
This is the first component of the NCRC and HUD social media campaign which will see additional components announced during National Fair Housing Month in April 2023.