Idaho Celebrates Fair Housing Month in April

BOISE - April is Fair Housing Month and activities throughout Idaho will focus the spotlight on the law enacted 37 years ago to ensure equal access to housing for all Americans. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, disability or familial status.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Governor Dirk Kempthorne, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other fair housing advocates will help underscore the importance of education, outreach and compliance in making certain that Idaho families have access to the housing of their choice.

Governor Kempthorne joins the cities of Boise, Nampa, Kellogg, Bonners Ferry, Coeur d'Alene, Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Lewiston and Shoshone County to issue proclamations, and IHFA and Idaho Legal Aid will distribute information at several housing forums around the state. Training also is planned in several locations. (See Schedule)

In an effort to reduce one barrier to fair housing, IHFA began offering on-site Spanish language training to its employees in 2004. "We're pleased to offer this opportunity," said IHFA's President and Executive Director Gerald Hunter. "IHFA's customer base reflects Idaho's growing Hispanic population, and several employees have expressed an interest in extending their customer service skills to Spanish-speaking callers."

IHFA often works with partners such as the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor to address fair housing and accessibility issues. Outreach efforts include statewide fair housing seminars for housing providers and property management professionals; technical training in accessible design and construction; and the 2004 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and Accessibility, a survey of over 1,500 stakeholders to evaluate remaining barriers to compliance and inform education and outreach efforts.

"We're very encouraged by the increased awareness of fair housing in Idaho," said Hunter. "At the same time, while providers understand basic protected-class issues, local advocates tell us they receive complaints involving reasonable accommodation and modification requests."

IHFA has invited Idaho Legal Aid Services to participate in April Regional Housing forums to discuss this topic with housing stakeholders.

"Tenants may request reasonable accommodation such as a policy change or a physical modification to address barriers related to a physical or mental disability. The request may be as straightforward as a wheelchair-access ramp or more complex, as in changing a lease agreement."

Hunter added that many violations are unintentional, and result when owners and property management staff aren't keeping up with current case law. The Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Idaho's local HUD contractor, offers technical assistance, training, self-testing and mediation services. They can be reached toll-free at 1-800-717-0695.

Congress created Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (known as the Fair Housing Act) 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 additional information on the Fair Housing Act, links to resources, and a copy of the 2004 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and Accessibility, visit IHFA's web site: www.ihfa.org/research_fairhousing.asp.

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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.