FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 31, 2016
CONTACTS:
Frank Penela (850) 488-7082
April is National Fair Housing Month
~ Shared Opportunity in Every Community ~
Tallahassee–As the nation celebrates National Fair Housing Month, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) is holding events across Florida commemorating the 48th anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Fair Housing Act. This year, the Fair Housing Month theme is “Shared Opportunity in Every Community.” This theme supports Floridians who are entitled by law to rent a place to live or to buy a home without discrimination.
The landmark federal legislation, signed into law on April 11, 1968, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, sex, and, as amended, disability or family status. Every April, people across the country are encouraged to learn more about their rights and responsibilities under the Act as a part of National Fair Housing Month.
More than 10,000 people filed housing discrimination complaints last year in the U.S., most from persons with disabilities, according to an annual report released this month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD also found that race-based housing discrimination was the second most frequent reason individuals filed complaints.
The FCHR Housing Unit has many activities planned during the month of April to celebrate Fair Housing Month 2016 in Florida. Here are a few:
- April 19- FCHR will take part in a housing training with the Sweet Life Realty Group of Port St Lucie.
- April 20- FCHR will take part in a panel discussion on Disability/Accommodations in West Palm Beach
- April 22- FCHR Executive Director will give the Keynote Address at the 2016 Florida Fair Housing Summitin Orlando
- April 20- FCHR will take part in a panel discussion at a City of Tallahassee Workshop
- April 28- FCHR will take part in the Florida Fair Housing Summit in Orlando in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Fair Housing Continuum, Inc., Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, et al
The Florida Commission on Human Relations, established in 1969, is the state agency charged with administering the Florida Civil Rights Act and Fair Housing Act. Fair treatment, equal access and mutual respect are the benchmarks of the Commission’s commitment. Through education and partnerships, the Commission works to prevent discrimination and costly litigation through teaching best business practices and fostering understanding amongst Floridians.
For more information on events, please visit http://fchr.state.fl.us or on Facebook and Twitter.
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