LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Lansing, and the state of Michigan, are in the midst of a housing crisis. Safe, affordable housing is difficult to find and obtain.
Officials from the Michigan Civil Rights Commission are holding hearings over the next few months to hear from Michiganders about their experiences with housing discrimination.
Gloria Lara is chair of the commission. She is aware of the impact of racial discrimination in housing. She’s Latina and he’s Black.
“I always pick the place,” she tells 6 News. “I don’t even want to have the hesitancy of someone not wanting to rent to us or to sell to us because of my husband being Black.”
She says it’s because she knows that racial discrimination still happens, despite being illegal under local, state and federal laws.
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution. Members are selected by the governor and appointed with the consent of the Michigan Senate. The Commission, in turn, oversees the collection, investigation and resolution of discrimination complaints made under Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Those day-to-day investigations are handled by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights , which reports to the Commission.