Tribute to Matti Seege, Former Chair of the Board of Directors

On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff, we honor the life and legacy of Matti Seege, whose service spanned 13 years in roles as Board Member, Vice Chair, and ultimately Chair.

From her earliest days as a board member, Matti brought insight, dedication, and a steady voice. As Vice Chair, she enhanced collaboration and paved the way for her tenure as Chair, during which her leadership was characterized by vision, integrity, and compassion.

Over her 13 years of service, Matti led the Center in ways that broadened our reach and deepened our impact. Her dedication was grounded in a straightforward, strong commitment to community. She was plain-spoken, courageous, and resilient.

She encouraged colleagues, celebrated successes, and offered guidance during challenging moments. Many of us will remember her carefree laugh and infectious joy as she led us in line dancing at the Waikiki Party fundraisers.

Even after stepping down from the board, Matti remained a source of encouragement and guidance. The standards she set and the example she lived by will continue to guide us, reminding us that service is both a responsibility and a privilege.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones. While we mourn her passing, we also honor her extraordinary life and the enduring impact she made during her years of distinguished service.

Class Action Against Nation’s Largest Single-Family Rental Housing Provider, Progress Residential, Filed Over Discriminatory Rental Policies by FHCCI and Indianapolis Resident

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) and Indianapolis, Indiana resident, Marckus Williams, have filed a class action complaint against Progress Residential, the nation’s largest single-family rental provider. This complaint alleges discriminatory practices perpetuated by Progress against Black renters through arbitrary criminal history policies. The lawsuit alleges that Progress enforces blanket bans on certain justice-involved applicants without assessing individual circumstances, disproportionately affecting Black applicants who are systematically overrepresented in criminal justice statistics.

Marckus Williams—an exemplar of personal redemption and community development—was denied housing by Progress due to outdated criminal records, including records that had been expunged, despite over a decade of serving his community. “Being unfairly barred from housing not only challenges my identity; it underscores a broader societal issue of systemic bias,” Mr. Williams asserts.

With a management portfolio exceeding 90,000 homes, Progress's alleged discriminatory practices are believed to have a widespread and detrimental impact on minority applicants across the company’s service area. The proportion of Black people disqualified by Progress’s blanket ban on renting to people with misdemeanor convictions between 2019 and 2021 is 4.44 times greater than the proportion of white people affected. For those with felony convictions between 2012 and 2021, the disparities are even greater, as the proportion of Black applicants disqualified is 8.16 times greater than the proportion of white people disqualified.

The complaint details how there are pervasive racial disparities at every juncture of the criminal justice system in this country, including the areas where Progress operates. Black individuals are more likely than their white counterparts to be stopped, arrested, convicted, and incarcerated. By automatically excluding applicants with certain kinds of justice-involvement, Progress’s policy disproportionately excludes Black applicants from the company’s thousands of rental units.

“These actions by Progress are not merely against the law—they are ethically unconscionable and perpetuate systemic disadvantage,” remarked Amy Nelson, FHCCI’s Executive Director.

This class action signifies an urgent call to amend the entrenched policies of this housing provider giant, safeguarding the civil rights of Black rental applicants who have been unlawfully denied residency. Valerie Comenencia Ortiz, an attorney at Relman Colfax, emphasized, “This complaint seeks to dismantle barriers and uphold rightful housing opportunities for victims of racial discrimination.”

If you believe you have experienced similar discrimination involving this company, please contact us here. Your voice matters, and by coming forward, you can help ensure justice is served and prevent future harm.

A copy of the filed complaint can be found on the FHCCI’s News Page or Enforcement Page.

The FHCCI and Mr. Williams are represented by Lila Miller, Valerie Comenencia Ortiz, Ellora Israni, Esmeralda Hermosillo, and Jake Hogan of Relman Colfax and Russell Cate and Matthew Keyes of RileyCate.

Previous news items are available here.