The United Citizens' Committee for Freedom of Residence in Illinois, a non-profit organization, was formed in 1960 to work for fair housing. Out of this statewide organization grew the Foundation for Freedom and Democracy in Community Life, which was incorporated in 1964. The Foundation is a national and international organization directed at achieving fair housing. Its stated purpose is that of “advancing a program of Education in responsible individual voluntary action for deepening the channels of expanding individual freedom and democracy in a pluralistic society in each local community, and of strengthening the chances for world peace and order in the atomic age”. To do this the organization proposes the formation of Freedom of Residence groups in as many states and countries as possible. The activities and organization of these groups are to be patterned after those of the original Illinois Freedom of Residence organization.
The Freedom of Residence in Illinois (FOR) organization, from its inception in 1960, directed its efforts toward obtaining fair housing through both a local and a statewide campaign. On a statewide basis FOR first concentrated on making people aware of the need for a fair housing act by holding conferences on the problem, providing speakers for civic groups, and securing the cooperation of other organizations with similar interests, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1963, FOR engaged in research on the housing question as part of its legislative campaign for a fair housing act. Questionnaires were sent to many members of various ethnic groups in Illinois to determine their interest in fair housing and their opinion as to whether discrimination had been employed against them or not. In spite of FOR's vigorous efforts, including the presentation of petitions to the state legislature, the campaign failed in 1963 when the Illinois legislature did not pass any of the proposed fair housing laws. Efforts were renewed in 1965 with the proposal of another fair housing act, only to fail once more.
In addition to the statewide efforts to bring about enactment of a fair housing law, FOR also urges local groups, such as the Human Relations Councils, to persuade municipalities to pass fair housing ordinances and to help members of minority groups to find non-discriminatory housing. One result has been the creation of local organizations interested in equal opportunities. These include Equal Opportunity associations among real estate brokers and Equal Opportunity community councils in many municipalities.
