Buffalo, NY – May 2025 — In a powerful move against racial injustice in the housing market, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) has filed a formal complaint against Avant Realty, a Buffalo-based real estate firm, for allegedly engaging in systemic racial discrimination against Black home seekers.
This action follows a multi-year undercover investigation by Housing Opportunities Made Equal Inc. (HOME), a fair housing nonprofit. Investigators found stark disparities in how Black and white prospective buyers were treated. According to HOME, Black individuals were shown fewer housing options and were often steered toward specific, racially segregated neighborhoods—practices that echo a dark history of racial steering in America.
“Racial steering in housing is unlawful and is beneficial to no community. It perpetuates segregation, and breeds intolerance, bigotry, and ignorance,” said DeAnna Eason, Executive Director of HOME. “These practices are not relics of the past—they are harming communities today. We’re thankful for LDF’s partnership in fighting back.”
The complaint, filed under both the federal Fair Housing Act and New York State Human Rights Law, accuses Avant Realty of violating core civil rights protections by denying Black residents equal access to housing and opportunity.
“Discriminatory housing practices aren’t just about where someone lives. They lock families out of economic stability, quality education, and access to essential resources,” said Morenike Fajana, Senior Counsel at LDF. “This is about dismantling structural racism that has defined Buffalo’s housing landscape for generations.”
Buffalo has long been one of the most segregated cities in the nation, a reality fueled by decades of discriminatory policies and private sector practices. The complaint against Avant Realty shines a spotlight on how these injustices continue to be perpetuated by actors in the housing market today.
“For decades, Black families in Buffalo have faced closed doors—blocked not by ability or income, but by race,” added Elizabeth Caldwell, Assistant Counsel at LDF. “No one should be denied the right to choose where they live because of the color of their skin.”
Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund has been at the forefront of the fight for racial justice in America. Through its Thurgood Marshall Institute, LDF continues to lead innovative legal and advocacy campaigns to challenge structural racism.
This latest complaint marks a crucial step in holding housing professionals accountable and ensuring that fair housing is more than just a promise—it’s a protected right.
