Home » HUD, Louisville real estate group form partnership to promote fair housing

HUD, Louisville real estate group form partnership to promote fair housing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 19, 2012) – In a continuing effort to end discriminatory treatment African Americans and other people of color often experience, HUD and the Louisville Real Estate Brokers Association (LREBA) today announced a new partnership to work together to promote fair housing in minority communities.

In Fiscal Year 2010, 27.8 percent (2,820) of the 10,157 fair housing complaints HUD and its fair housing partner agencies received alleged race discrimination against blacks. At the same time, a recent HUD report showed that the nation’s “worst case housing needs” increased by 3.2 percentage points among African American families.

The partnership between HUD and LREBA will help end discrimination by informing consumers in African American and other minority communities and public and private industry members about their fair housing rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, according to a press release from HUD. The announcement comes during the 44th anniversary of the passing of the National Fair Housing Act, which is commemorated by HUD and its partners each April.

“Let us be reminded that this is the time of the year when the nation commemorates the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The overall theme is ‘Live Free,’ which is a promise of a nation founded on the ideals of liberty and justice for all. Housing discrimination has no place in America and no one should be unlawfully denied the housing of their choice,” said Natasha Watson, director of the HUD Louisville Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Center.

HUD and LREBA will conduct joint seminars, workshops and forums on ways to identify unlawful sales, rental and lending and related government contracting discrimination. They also will work together to educate people in all communities about their fair housing and related government contracting rights and avenues available to them should they experience discrimination.

LREBA also will emphasize the importance of fair housing and equal opportunity to real estate professionals as well as work with other organizations and institutions in African American communities, including faith-based groups and government agencies to distribute fair housing information.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), or 1800-927-9275 (TTY).

Visit HUD online www.hud.gov.