Five Idaho students will be recognized for their artwork advocating fair housing practices during the 2006 Idaho Conference on Housing's Oct. 3 luncheon at the Doubletree Riverside in Boise. The conference is the state's largest, most comprehensive event addressing issues facing the affordable housing industry in Idaho and across the country.

"This important conference on many housing issues, including fair housing, will allow us to continue to work together in making Idaho a better place to call home," said Gerald Hunter, President and Executive Director, Idaho Housing and Finance Association. "I commend these students for the thought and effort they've put into their entries."

Through drawings, writing and graphic design, 78 Idaho high school students worked to illustrate basic themes of fairness and diversity in their entries to the contest, coordinated by Idaho Commerce & Labor and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.

The winning entries, along with other artwork submitted will be showcased at the luncheon and later featured in a 2007 Fair Housing Calendar which will be available beginning Dec. 1 at 24 Idaho Commerce & Labor offices throughout the state.

Top contest winners are: Arielle Nelson, Nampa, (Nampa High School), first place; Michele Morgan, Hayden (Lakeland High School), second place; Brittany Tanner, Post Falls (Lakeland High School), third place; and Mary Roskovich, Coeur d'Alene (Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy), fourth place. Jeremiah Hatch, Sandpoint (Sandpoint High School) will have his writing featured in the calendar.

The first place winner will receive a MacBook laptop. Second and third place winners will receive gift certificates to put towards digital cameras and fourth place will receive an iPod.

All other winners will receive $100 gift certificates from Circuit City, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com (their choice).

Idaho Fair Housing Month is traditionally recognized during April. The National Fair Housing Act protects citizens on the basis of race/color, gender, familial status, disability, national origin and religion. The two most common complaints in Idaho are those regarding discrimination based upon disability and familial status. In order to ensure that all Idahoans have equal access to quality housing it is important to educate not only housing stakeholders, but also all citizens of their rights under the Fair Housing Act.

"Although the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, discriminatory practices are still prevalent across the country," said Idaho Commerce & Labor Director Roger B. Madsen. "April is usually Fair Housing month, but these students are using art to demonstrate that in Idaho, we believe every day should be a fair housing day."

Seventy-eight students from across Idaho submitted work for the inaugural contest organized by the Fair Housing Forum, a diverse group of housing stakeholders and advocates. Sponsors include Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, the Idaho Human Rights Commission, Qwest, the Idaho Association of Realtors, City of Nampa, City of Boise, Idaho State Independent Living Council, Intermountain Bank, East Central Idaho Planning and Development Association and Racine Olson Nye Budge & Bailey.

For more information about attending the 2006 Idaho Conference on Housing, please call (208) 331-4858.

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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.