UD Assistant Secretary Gustavo Velasquez to visit Boise
BOISE – April 1, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) –– A number of special events throughout the State of Idaho have been scheduled during the month of April, which commemorates the Fair Housing Act, a landmark 1968 law that guarantees equal access to housing. Included will be a keynote address from Assistant Secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Gustavo Velasquez.
The Fair Housing Act guarantees ‘the right of all people to be free from discrimination in the rental, sale or financing of housing’ based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. The primary aim of the act is to ensure that all persons can live where they choose and can afford. This ‘housing choice’ in turn determines access to essential community resources such as education, health care, law enforcement and employment opportunities.
“The need for education about Fair Housing continues to grow within our communities across the state,” said Gerald M. Hunter, president of Idaho Housing and Finance Association. “We are proud to be one of the many partners working to help further Fair Housing education in Idaho.” IHFA is a member and long time supporter of the Idaho Fair Housing Forum, a group of organizations and municipalities that support fair housing education and outreach.
The Idaho Fair Housing Forum will host the two-day 2015 Idaho Fair Housing Conference, on April 14-15 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the URS Auditorium, 720 Park Boulevard in Boise. The discussions are aimed at consumers, providers, advocates and anyone else interested in learning about Fair Housing Act rights and responsibilities. In addition to Assistant Secretary Velasquez, Wendy Olson, U.S. Attorney for Idaho and Pegge McGuire, executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Oregon will also speak.
Conference topics are intended primarily for residential property owners and managers and cover compliance language assistance, service animals, reasonable accommodation and ADA requirements. Topics relevant to the housing industry and local government will be reviewed during the second session on April 15.
The conference and training sessions are free. For registration, webcast and further details visit fairhousingforum.org or call 208-334-1088.
In addition to the Idaho Fair Housing Conference, free Fair Housing Month activities will also take place at the following locales:
April
Fair Housing Basics Workshop
Topics include Fair Housing Act, Support Animals and Reasonable Accommodations and Limited English Proficiency.
Moscow: April 9, 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Pacific, 1912 Center, Arts Workshop, 412 E. Third Street.
http://www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.registerEvent&eventId=2354&update=N
Lewiston: April 10, 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Pacific, Conference Room, Community Development, 215 D Street.
http://www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.registerEvent&eventId=2355&update=N
2015 Idaho Workshop on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) and HUD Section 3
Features topics of interest to city and county professionals in the areas of ADA and 504 compliance for housing providers, CC&R’s, HOA’s and fair housing implications for land use planners.
Boise: April 15, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Mountain, URS Auditorium, 720 Park Boulevard.
http://hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.addRegisterEvent&eventId=2348&update=N
May
Fair Housing Basics Workshop
Topics include Fair Housing Act, Support Animals and Reasonable Accommodations and Limited English Proficiency.
Idaho Falls: May 6, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m. Mountain, Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 W. Broadway.
http://www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.registerEvent&eventId=2356&update=N
Idahoans also have an online resource to help them understand Fair Housing Act basics. Four animated videos commissioned by Idaho Housing and Finance Association help viewers understand the basics of fair housing, recognize discrimination, report possible violations and promote accessibility. The videos, in English and Spanish, are available atidahohousing.com and fairhousingforum.org (search for “fair housing videos”).
Katrina Thompson katrinat (at) ihfa (dot) org
Marketing and Communications Manager
208-331-4738
