Akron City Council Recognizes April 2026 as Fair Housing Month

On March 30, 2026, ACAR’s VP of Advocacy Jamie McMillen headed to Akron City Council to show support for a resolution declaring April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in the City of Akron. Introduced by Councilmen McKitrick and Bolden, the resolution reaffirms the City’s commitment to eliminating housing segregation and discrimination, and ACAR, representing roughly 6,000 real estate professionals across northeast Ohio, was proud to be there in support.

The resolution recognizes that the Fair Housing Act, signed into law on April 11, 1968, enshrined the goal of eliminating racial segregation and ending housing discrimination across the country. It also acknowledges that Akron’s own Municipal Code (§38.03) goes beyond federal protections, prohibiting housing discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, familial status, marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and military status. The Council also urged community leaders across Akron to use Fair Housing Month as an opportunity to inform the public about their housing rights under local, state, and federal law.

Fair housing isn’t just a legal requirement for REALTORS®, it’s a core part of who we are. McMillen put it well at the meeting: fair housing is so much more than a list of dos and don’ts or a box to check for continuing education. It’s about protecting everyone’s right to own, use, and transfer property in a free and open market.

Fifty-eight years ago, the Fair Housing Act was signed into law, but that didn’t happen without a fight. People marched in unwelcoming cities, challenged discriminatory practices head-on, and pushed for change in legislative sessions and community meetings across the country. ACAR remains committed to addressing that reality and working toward a future where everyone has equal opportunity at the American dream of homeownership.

This April, look out for metro bus ads celebrating Fair Housing Month around the region, a small but visible reminder of why this work matters. And to all of Akron and the broader communities in Cuyahoga, Portage, and Summit Counties, ACAR is here as a resource and a partner.

You can catch McMillen’s full remarks from the Council meeting here.

View resolution here.