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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 04-21-20; 8-b - Fair Housing Month Proclamation 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 21, 2020 Action Agenda Item No. 8-b SUBJECT: Fair Housing Month Proclamation DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette Moore, Human Rights and Fair Housing Month Proclamation Relations, 919-245-2317 Fair Housing Advertisement PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating April 2020 as Fair Housing Month in Orange County, North Carolina. BACKGROUND: The month of April is National Fair Housing Month. April 2020 will mark the 52nd anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the 26t" anniversary of the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance. These laws grant every person a right to live where they choose, free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, or disability. The Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, established in 1987, adds additional protections from discrimination based on age and veteran status. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") has chosen "Call HUD: Because Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal" as the 2020 Fair Housing Month theme. The chosen theme expresses the ideal of fair and equal housing opportunities in every community. To bring awareness to those protected by the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, the Department of Human Rights and Relations has chosen a different theme than HUD this year, "Closing the Door on Housing Discrimination." Due to the current pandemic, the Human Rights and Relations Department has opted to provide an expansive advertisement campaign to educate the public during Fair Housing Month in lieu of in-person training and events. Many advertisements for this month and beyond will focus on Fair Housing issues that may arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly based on race, national origin, disability and age. As part of Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), HUD has provided grant recipients Partnership Grants. The Human Rights and Relations Department has been allocated a $10,000 HUD Partnership Grant to aid the Department by using these funds to engage in activities targeted to lead to increase FHAP conduct enforcement of fair housing rights under state and local laws. One of the specific targeted activities was to partner with community based 2 organizations to conduct education and outreach on fair housing. Human Rights and Relation will provide three mini grants to community partners for the following purposes: (1) extend their current work into Northern Orange Community; (2) receive training on fair housing; (3) provide education and outreach to the communities they serve about potential Fair Housing rights whether COVID 19 related or otherwise; and (4) steer their clients to the Department of Human Rights and Relations if their clients or others are experiencing discrimination in housing. May— December Marian Cheek The Department will work with community partner to bring 2020 Jackson information about COVID-19 and housing discrimination to Center* the communities, they work with for the month of April and beyond as needed. The Activity funded will be the Learning Across Generation: Local Civil Rights and Oral History Education Program May — December Refugee The Department will work with community partner to bring 2020 Support Center* information about COVID-19 and housing discrimination to the communities, they work with for the month of April and beyond as needed. This activity will fund the Bridge Builders Programs. May — December El Centro The Department will work with community partner to bring 2020 Hispano information about COVID-19 and housing discrimination to the communities, they work with for the month of April and beyond as needed. Tis will fund an expansion of the Community Support and Engagement Funds. In addition to these advertisement campaigns, the Human Rights and Relations Department has also scheduled to host a Fair Housing Training Webinar for Housing Providers on April 29 via GoToMeeting. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the consideration of the proclamation. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. Fair and equal housing opportunities is not only a legal mandate, it is also an Orange County priority which can bring about a community that is both harmonious and diverse. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION FAIR HOUSING MONTH WHEREAS,April 11, 2020 marked the 52"d anniversary of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (formally known as the Fair Housing Act) and the 371h anniversary of the North Carolina Fair Housing Act prohibiting discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability and familial status; and WHEREAS,the Orange County Board of Commissioners enacted the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance on June 6, 1994, which affords to the residents of Orange County the protections guaranteed by the Fair Housing Act and additionally encompasses the protected classes of Veteran Status and Age; and WHEREAS, Orange County and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as concerned residents and the housing industry are working to make fair housing opportunities possible for everyone by encouraging others to abide by the letter and the spirit of fair housing laws; and WHEREAS,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development annually declares the month of April as National Fair Housing Month, designating Call HUD: Because Sexual Harassment In Housing is Illegal as the national theme and Orange County has designated Closing the Door on Housing Discrimination as its theme in 2020; and WHEREAS, despite the protections afforded by the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance and the Fair Housing Act, illegal housing discrimination still occurs in our nation and within our County; and WHEREAS,by supporting and promoting fair housing and equal opportunity, we are contributing to the strength of our County, State and Nation; NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County North Carolina, do proclaim April 2020 as FAIR HOUSING MONTH and commend this observance to all Orange County residents. This the 21 st day of April 2020. Penny Rich, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Clos'ing the Hous*ing D Cerrando lapuerta a la discriminacion de vivienda, If you believe you have experienced a form of housing discrimination, please contact Human Rights and Relations to file a complaint. RAC COLOR RELIGION NATIONAL Si tree que ha experimentado alguna forma de I ORIGIN discriminacion en lavivienda,comuniquesecon Derechos GEN Humanos y Relaciones para presentar una queja. RAIA COLOR RELIGION �RI NACION�NAL wr HUB Ri WIONS COMMISSION VETERAN'SJAMILIAL CuNivpsing[ommuni�y Through Social Justice DISABILITY STATUS STATUS CDNDICION DISCAPACIDAD EDAD SEX4 ESTAD4 ' 0 DE VETERAND FAM I LIAR Fair Housin Awareness orangecountync.gov/Fa'l'rHousing OPPOLRTUN4TY