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April 14, 2022
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NEW YORK STATE CELEBRATES FAIR HOUSING MONTHDivision of Human Rights Hosting Fair Housing Webinars to Educate the Public |
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April is Fair Housing Month! To celebrate, the Division of Human Rights, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and the New York State Department of State will be hosting fair housing webinars to educate New Yorkers about their rights. The virtual programs will cover the legal protections against discrimination that are afforded homebuyers and the fair housing obligations of professionals in the real estate industry. Fair Housing 101: A Guide for Home Buyers in New York State April 26, 2022, at 5:30 pm. Join our panel of industry experts to gain insights into how you can identify discrimination in the home buying process. From house-hunting to appraisals and loans, learn what you can do if you encounter bias. Register here. Fair Housing 101: A Guide for Real Estate Professionals April 27, 2022, at 2:00 pm. State and federal partners such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Justice, NYS Department of State, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, and the National Association of Realtors will provide a multi-pronged approach to the topic of fair housing for real estate professionals. Register here. Further information about housing discrimination can be found here. Information about how to file a complaint with the Division of Human Rights can be found here. Division of Human Rights Commissioner Maria Imperial said, “Housing is the foundation of building community and ensuring that all people can participate fully in the life of the state. Everyone deserves to be free of discrimination in finding a home. I am so proud to lead an agency that works to make that promise a reality for New Yorkers. The Division is committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination in housing and ensuring that every New Yorker knows their rights.” Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Housing discrimination is illegal, and under the leadership of Governor Hochul and our partners in the legislature, we are working hard to make sure every New Yorker has equal access to housing. Real estate professionals in New York State have an obligation to provide fair and equitable services to all. A number of new laws further strengthen fair housing protections here in New York State, and I encourage all New Yorkers to understand their rights to having equal access to housing.” RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal said, “Fair Housing Month shines an important light on the injustice of long-standing and ongoing racist housing practices. At HCR, we work every day to protect renters and homeowners against discrimination, invest in underserved communities, and promote economic inclusion by making safe, secure and affordable housing accessible to everyone. We are proud to join Governor Hochul and our partners in state government to commemorate Fair Housing Month and recommit to the advancement of housing equity and justice across New York State. By learning and working together, we can provide all New Yorkers with the opportunities that a good home can provide.” Governor Kathy Hochul has taken several measures to improve the stability and affordability of New York State’s housing system. The FY2023 State Budget includes a $25 billion, five-year housing plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations. The Budget will also make continued major investments to build new supportive housing, preserve existing multifamily developments, construct new homes for seniors, create new opportunities for first-time homeowners, and improve energy-efficiency across the state's current housing stock. In addition, the state's Fair Housing Testing Program will be provided an additional $2 million in order to increase the ability to proactively investigate suspected housing discrimination and to enhance education and outreach efforts on fair housing rights and requirements to landlords, tenants, real estate professionals, and local governments. |
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