BOISE - Statewide efforts to focus awareness on fair housing officially commence at 2 p.m. April 1 in the Governor's office, when Governor Dirk Kempthorne will proclaim April Fair Housing Month. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association and its proclamation ceremony co-sponsors—the Idaho Association of REALTORS®, the Idaho Building Contractors Association, the Idaho Manufactured Housing Association, the Idaho Office of U.S. Housing and Urban Development and the Intermountain Fair Housing Council—will be on hand to underscore the importance of education, outreach and compliance to make certain that every Idaho family has access to housing opportunities. Other statewide housing policy issue partners are also expected to be in attendance.

“Ensuring fair and equal access to housing is everyone’s responsibility,” said IHFA’s President and Executive Director Gerald Hunter. “Because the interpretation and application of fair housing law continues to evolve, we feel it is critical to provide current information to housing stakeholders.” He added that many violations are unintentional and result when owners and property management staff aren’t up-to-date on the law and its technical implications.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race or color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. Lack of knowledge regarding the law and its application is a major weakness in Idaho that can result in housing discrimination. When unfair housing practices cause a lack of housing options for Idaho families, family and community stability is undermined, affecting our ability to seek and retain employment and negatively impacting our children’s access to education, increasing the exposure to crime and reducing the quality of health care.

Statewide regional housing roundtable meetings will emphasize Fair Housing during April. Specialists from HUD, Idaho Legal Aid Services, local municipal government and legal experts will join in these discussions among hundreds of key housing stakeholders.

In 2002, IHFA partnered with Wells Fargo Bank, the Idaho Department of Commerce (IDOC), and members of the state's housing industry to sponsor a training series on accessible design and construction. More than 250 housing professionals gained practical information that will help reduce barriers for generations of Idahoans.

Although they receive special emphasis in April, the issues of fair housing are a concern year-round. Thirty-five years ago Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (commonly known as the Fair Housing Act) was created by Congress following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A year later the Idaho Legislature created the Human Rights Commission Act, prohibiting housing discrimination in Idaho.

For more information on Fair Housing Month in Idaho, please contact: Frankie Hickman-Rice, Idaho Building Contractors Association, 377-3550; Mark Dunham, Idaho Association of REALTORS®, 342-3585; Jack Lyman, Manufactured Housing Association, 342-0031; Connie Hogland, Housing and Urban Development, 334-1088 (ext. 3002); Richard Mabbutt, Intermountain Fair Housing Council, 383-0695; or Reed Hollinshead, IHFA Public and Media Relations Officer, 331-4858. For more information on the Fair Housing Act, visit IHFA’s Web site: http://www.ihfa.org/research_fairhousing.asp.