Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Title
Consider Resolution Proclaiming the month of April 2026 Fair Housing Month.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves a Resolution Proclaiming the Month of April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in Northfield.
Summary Report:
Adoption of this resolution fulfills the City’s obligation as a recipient of Federal Funds through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The City of Northfield adopted a Fair Housing Statement in 2023. The Fair Housing Statement is meant to be a living document. An annual proclamation acknowledges the importance of Fair Housing and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to our community. An annual proclamation also acknowledges that there are still barriers to equal housing and our community actively works to break those barriers down.
History:
On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which was meant as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The 1968 Act expanded on previous acts and prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap and family status. Title VIII of the Act is also known as the Fair Housing Act (of 1968).
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:
• Race
• Color
• National Origin
• Religion
• Sex (including gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual harassment)
• Familial Status (marital status)
• Disability
The Minnesota Human Rights Act, or MHRA, is the state’s civil rights statute. Analogous to the federal Fair Housing Act, it has protections against discrimination in public and private housing, as well as lending and public accommodations. However, the MHRA adds additional protections for residents of Minnesota in a number of important ways. First, it adds the following additional protected classes:
• Status with Regard to Public Assistance
• Creed
It also extends the reach of the law to housing providers of properties not covered by the Fair Housing Act, such as owner-occupied fourplexes and, in some cases, those who rent out rooms in their home.
As a community, we are committed to doing all we can to end unlawful housing discrimination and advance equity for all underserved populations, fulfilling the full promise of the Fair Housing Act.
City Plans & Policies Relevance:
N/A
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
CDBG funding is contingent on this resolution
Tentative Timelines:
N/A