NFHA Mourns the Loss and Celebrates the Legacy of Fair Housing Champion Lee Porter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NFHA Mourns the Loss and Celebrates the Legacy of Fair Housing Champion Lee Porter
Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA ™) mourns the passing and celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Lee Porter, a pioneering civil rights leader, founding Board Member of NFHA, and long-time Executive Director of the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey. Mrs. Porter passed away on July 20, 2025.
“Lee Porter is affectionately known as the “Mother of Fair Housing” because of how she transformed her personal experience with housing discrimination into a lifetime of national leadership and advocacy,” stated Vince Curry, Chair of the NFHA Board of Directors. “From organizing “straw-person” home purchases to breaking down racial barriers in the years before the federal Fair Housing Act, to leading federal policy reform efforts, Mrs. Porter’s impact on the fair housing landscape in America is immeasurable.”
“Lee Porter was a trailblazer whose moral clarity, relentless spirit, and fierce advocacy changed the housing landscape for generations,” said Lisa Rice, President and CEO of NFHA. “She served as a mentor for me and so many others in the civil rights field. And she didn’t just fight for fair housing—she helped build the foundation on which our entire movement stands.”
Mrs. Porter served on NFHA’s Board of Directors from its inception in 1988 until 2003, and she played a key role in establishing the Fair Housing Initiatives Program—the only permanently funded federal program that directly supports nonprofit fair housing organizations. Her efforts enabled fair housing groups across the country to expand their work combating housing discrimination, segregation, and systemic racism.
Under her decades of leadership, the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey grew from an all-volunteer organization to one of the most respected civil rights agencies in the nation, serving thousands of families annually.
Mrs. Porter’s work profoundly impacted countless lives, including that of U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who has described her as one of the “titans” in his life for helping his family overcome housing discrimination and purchase a home in New Jersey.
In 2024, NFHA proudly presented Mrs. Porter with the Edward W. Brooke and Walter F. Mondale Fair Housing Award, the organization’s highest honor, in recognition of her lifetime achievements in the fight for justice and equality.
As we grieve her passing, we also recommit ourselves to carrying forward the legacy Lee Porter leaves behind—a legacy rooted in justice, opportunity, and a deep belief that every person deserves access to a home, free from discrimination.
The National Fair Housing Alliance extends its deepest condolences to the Porter family and the entire Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey. We honor her life by continuing the work she began and sustaining the movement she helped build.
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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for 200 fair housing and justice-centered organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.