National, local, and university officials are praising a new partnership between Suffolk University Law School, the City of Boston, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) aimed at combating housing discrimination in Greater Boston.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (shown, right), Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, and HUD Assistant Secretary John Trasviña all stressed the significance of the program and its goals at a kick-off event held at Suffolk Law September 12.

"This partnership does something powerful," said HUD's Trasviña. "It is training the next generation of civil rights leaders. Bringing this issue into the classroom is going to make a meaningful difference to students and to the people who need the­se services."

The partnership, funded by a $150,000 HUD grant, expands Suffolk Law's work with the Boston Fair Housing Commission, which explores the prevalence of housing discrimination in the Boston area. The partnership will allow for systemic testing focused on LGBT, disability, and familial status issues, as well as complaint-based testing that supports state and local Fair Housing Assistance Programs.

Mayor Menino thanked HUD for their commitment to fair housing. "This is a very important issue in our city, country, and world," he said. "Our goal is to eliminate discrimination and increase access to housing regardless of where you were born, sexual orientation, race, religion, or family status."

Housing discrimination remains pervasive not only in Massachusetts but throughout the country. The program allows students to increase their familiarity with housing rights through substantive coursework, clinical opportunities, and externships with HUD and its partners. 

"This is a springboard for students to gain practical skills that they can apply for the benefit of the community," said Camille Nelson, Dean of Suffolk University Law School. "It reactivates our mission of service and reminds us that we are in a service profession. It is a privilege to stand up for those who face oppression and injustice.

"We are thrilled to be part of this collaboration with HUD," said Nelson. "The program will help uncover insidious behavior that can have such a crushing impact on individuals and families."

Students in Suffolk Law's Housing Clinic currently work on behalf of indigent individuals, including fair housing cases.

"We are looking forward to focusing attention on housing discrimination," said Clinical Professor of Law William Berman, associate director of Suffolk Law School's clinical programs. Berman and his colleagues are working to develop protocols for the Suffolk program with F. Willis Caruso, professor and co-executive director of the Fair Housing Legal Support Center & Clinic at John Marshall Law School in Chicago.  

Attorney General Coakley spoke about the Commonwealth's efforts to combat housing discrimination. "More than 125 housing discrimination matters have been handled by our office," she said. "This work has resulted in more than $2.5 million in relief for Massachusetts residents. I consider these the most important things that we do because it means that people can stay in their homes."

HUD Assistant Secretary Trasviña, who signed a proclamation marking the launch of HUD's National Fair Housing Collegiate Partnership Campaign, said that everyone has a role to play in making sure that housing decisions are made with an eye toward fair housing.

(Above, Trasviña and Dean Nelson sign the National Fair Housing Collegiate Partnership Campaign proclamation.)