Get your 2007 Fair Housing Calendar today!

We are pleased to announce the availability of the 2007 Fair Housing Calendar! The calendar is the result of the Art for Fair Housing contest coordinated by IHFA and Idaho Commerce and Labor (ICL), with generous sponsorship from a variety of Idaho lenders, cities, private businesses and housing stakeholders. The calendar features the work of Idaho high school-aged students, along with useful reference tools and information regarding fair housing and accessibility in Idaho.

Previous fair housing efforts undertaken by IHFA and ICL generally focused on activities during Fair Housing Month or on training opportunities for housing providers and professionals. While these efforts are essential, we felt it would be good to try a new direction. The initial ideas were generated within the Idaho Fair Housing Forum, a group of stakeholders who meet regularly to discuss cooperative and collaborative opportunities. One member suggested an art contest, another proposed using a calendar to showcase the winners, and we were off and running.

We had several goals with this year's project:

• To get students, teachers and parents talking and thinking about fair housing, accessibility and diversity.
• To keep these issues in the minds of Idahoans 365 a year, since fair housing is a year-round issue for those impacted by discrimination.
• To tap the creative energy and unique perspective of Idaho youth to help us affirmatively further fair housing.
• To offer a unique opportunity for dialogue and cooperation among diverse stakeholders groups impacted by fair housing in some way.
• To provide an informational resource that demystifies fair housing and accessibility laws and directs those with questions or related issues to relevant providers and resources.
• To help reduce unintentional violations and injury through education and outreach.

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The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing business organization, provides funding for affordable housing in communities where it is most needed and when economically feasible.