THE COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS HAS FOUND THAT HOUSING IS THE ONE COMMODITY IN THE AMERICAN MARKET THAT IS NOT FREELY AVAILABLE ON EQUAL TERMS TO EVERYONE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY. TO A LARGE EXTENT, THE WASHINGTON, D.C., METROPOLITAN AREA IS RACIALLY SEGREGATED IN ITS HOUSING PATTERN, WITH DISCRIMINATION AS THE PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE PERCENTAGE OF NEGROES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAS INCREASED GREATLY IN RECENT YEARS. AN OVERALL EXPANSION OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEGROES HAS OCCURRED IN THE DISTRICT, BUT SEGREGATION CONTINUES. WASHINGTON SUBURBS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF NEGRO POPULATION. LACK OF SUBURBAN HOUSING AVAILABLE TO NEGROES HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECREASE. EXPERIENCE IN THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS THE REAL ESTATE BROKERS, BUILDERS, AND MORTGAGE FINANCING INSTITUTIONS THAT TRANSLATE PREJUDICE INTO DISCRIMINATORY ACTION. ON COMPLETION OF THE STUDY ON RACE AND HOUSING IN THE WASHINGTON AREA, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT THE D.C. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ISSUE AND IMPLEMENT AN APPROPRIATE REGULATION PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASES OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONALITY IN THE SALE, RENTAL, OR FINANCING OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT. FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING--THAT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL ESTABLISH A STANDING COMMITTEE ON MINORITY HOUSING PROBLEMS, THAT THE U.S. CONGRESS AUTHORIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL RELOCATION SERVICE FOR WASHINGTON, D.C., TO SERVE ALL PERSONS FORCED OUT OF DWELLINGS BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT ACTION, THAT THE PRESIDENT REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE ACTS OF MEMBERS OF HOUSING AND HOME FINANCE INDUSTRY IN THE WASHINGTON AREA.