The Idaho Housing and Finance Association and proclamation ceremony co-sponsors-the Idaho Association of REALTORS®, the Idaho Building Contractors Association, the Idaho Manufactured Housing Association, the Idaho Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Intermountain Fair Housing Council and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development-will be on hand to underscore the importance of making certain that every Idaho family has access to housing opportunities. Other statewide housing policy issue partners also are 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 understanding, interpretation and application of fair-housing law continues to evolve, 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, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. Lack of knowledge regarding the law and its application can result in housing discrimination.

When unfair housing practices cause a lack of housing options for Idaho families, family and community stability is undermined.

Regional housing roundtable meetings statewide 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.

IHFA will host Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST training April 20-21 at the MK Plaza Auditorium in Boise. Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is a HUD-sponsored initiative to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. Housing professionals are encouraged to attend the free workshops. Register online at www.fairhousingfirst.org.

Although they receive special emphasis in April, the issues of fair housing are a concern year-round. Thirty-six 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; Alex LeBeau, Idaho Association of REALTORS®, 342-3585; Jack Lyman, Manufactured Housing Association, 342-0031; Connie Hogland, HUD-Idaho, 334-1088 (Ext. 3002); Shirleane Hays, Intermountain Fair Housing Council, 383-0695; Roni Atkins, USDA-Rural Development, 378-5627; or Reed Hollinshead, IHFA Public and Media Relations Officer, 331-4858. For more information on the Fair Housing Act, visit IHFA's Web site: research_fairhousing.asp.

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