Press Release  Massachusetts’ First Director of Fair Housing Joins Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities

Boston — This month, Whitney Demetrius joined the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) as the state’s inaugural Director of Fair Housing. EOHLC’s Office of Fair Housing was established by the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Affordable Homes Act to support fair housing initiatives, including enforcement, testing, outreach and education, as well as to collaborate with other state agencies to advance fair housing policies and programs.

“A crucial part of ensuring our Commonwealth is truly livable is addressing the barriers to fair housing and housing choice,” said Whitney Demetrius, EOHLC Director of Fair Housing. “I am eager to work collaboratively in this role to carry out the vision of this Administration, putting fair housing at the forefront of our path forward.”

Massachusetts fair housing law prohibits discrimination in any housing related transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, disability, genetic information, military status, familial status, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, source of income, and gender identity or expression. The law is enforced by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and the Attorney General.

“We are incredible grateful to have Whitney join EOHLC as the state’s first Director of Fair Housing and to build out the Fair Housing Office’s mission and goals,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “Whitney’s long experience and expertise on fair housing policy will ensure that the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s efforts to make housing more affordable, accessible and open to all are led with diligence and compassion.”

For more than a decade Whitney has worked in fair housing policy and previously served as the Director of Fair Housing and Municipal Engagement at Citizens' Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA), as the Deputy Director of the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, and currently serves on the board of Metro Housing|Boston and the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation.

"Whitney's on the ground experience and work across the state supporting practitioners, municipalities, and advocates make her the perfect pick to lead the Office of Fair Housing,” said Rachel Heller, CEO, CHAPA. “Her expertise and commitment to ensuring people have meaningful choices in where they live will establish this office as a vital resource for people, our communities, and the Commonwealth."

EOHLC currently provides support to fair housing initiatives, including those led by the Fair Housing Alliance of Massachusetts (FHAM).

“FHAM is very excited to work with Whitney Demetrius on this important work,” said Jamie Langowski a representative of FHAM and the Housing Discrimination Testing Program at Suffolk University, “Whitney deeply understands the critical role that eliminating housing discrimination plays in tackling the affordable housing crisis and brings a nuanced and innovative perspective to moving the work forward.”

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