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HUD releases memo implementing Biden executive order on discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

Order based on Supreme Court ruling related to civil rights protections based on sex

February 11, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a memo on the implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order 13988 directing that all federal agencies extend the enforcement of all federal statutes that prohibit sex discrimination to also combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. HUD’s memo directs HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity to enforce the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.


Download the HUD memo

The President’s executive order is based on the Supreme Court’s decision last year in Bostock v Clayton County which found that prohibitions in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against employment discrimination based on sex extend to and include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Jeanine M. Worden pledged that HUD will “fully engage our fair housing enforcement, advocacy, and public education effords across the housing market to prevent and combat discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released a statement in favor of HUD’s memo. “No one should be excluded from housing based on who they are or who they love,” said Senator Brown. “I applaud the Biden Administration for taking steps to ensure that HUD is finally carrying out the Bostock ruling’s confirmation that civil rights protections extend to sexual orientation and gender identity. As Chairman of the Senate Banking and Housing Committee, I will work with the Administration and HUD to fully enforce our nation’s fair housing laws.”

 

Winter 2020 newsletter now available


Download our Winter newsletter!
The latest edition of the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center’s newsletter is now available to download.

The newsletter has information about National Association of REALTORS® adding hate speech as a prohibited activity, Women’s Council of REALTORS® annual Fair Housing Month Celebration, and an update on MVFHC’s Fair Housing Month Celebration.

To receive new editions of the newsletter via e-mail, become a MVFHC member.

 

MVFHC and woman living with disabilities file lawsuit against Audubon Crossing

January 14, 2021 — The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center (MVFHC) and Latisha Martin have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the Audubon Crossing Apartments and Woda Cooper Companies engaged in discrimination in violation of federal law.


Download the complete news release

Ms. Martin has been a resident of Audubon Crossing since April 2019. She uses a power wheelchair for mobility and has limited use of her limbs. Starting in March 1, 2019, Ms. Martin submitted and re‑submitted requests for reasonable accommodation and/or modification but faced repeated denials from Woda Cooper. Installation of a door opener was finally completed in July 2020.

MVFHC assisted Ms. Martin in filing an administration complaint with the City of Dayton’s Human Relations Council (HRC), a HUD-funded Fair Housing Assistance Program. HRC found probably cause that disability discrimination had occurred against Ms. Martin and that MVFHC had diverted resources and had its mission to eliminate housing discrimination frustrated by Woda Cooper’s actions.

The lawsuit asserts that Ms. Martin and MVFHC both merit compensatory damages as well as punitive damages. For more information, read the complete news release.

 

Previous news items are available here.

Resources and useful links

Directions


MVFHC is at 505 Riverside Drive.
Get detailed directions here.

If you shop at Amazon.com, did you know that by shopping instead at smile.amazon.com you can direct 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice?

MVFHC is an eligible charity, and we’d appreciate your support. Designate MVFHC as your Amazon Smile charity today.

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Special reports

Copies of special reports such as Analyses of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice released by local jurisdictions as well as other reports done by MVFHC on zoning and predatory lending are available on the reports page.
MVFHO - Miami Valley Housing Opportunities is at www.mvho.net

HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton

The Home Ownership Center is a non-profit organization that empowers local residents to achieve and sustain homeownership and financial success. They’ve helped thousands of individuals and families meet their homeownership goals through a variety of services offered at low or no cost. You can reach the HomeOwnership Center at 937-853-1600.

Fair Housing webinars

In conjunction with the Greater Dayton Apartment Association, MVFHC is offering one-hour fair housing webinars on the second Wednesday of every other month in 2018 (odd months). For more information, visit our GDAA webinar page.
Fair Housing Accessibility First logo
Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that promotes compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. Visit www.fairhousingfirst.org for instruction programs and useful online resources.

Your Rights & Duties as a Tenant

Although MVFHC does not provide assistance with landlord/tenant issues unrelated to discrimination, the booklet Your Rights and Duties as a Tenant, presented by Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc., is a useful resource.

Additional Landlord/Tenant info

Also, if you are a landlord or a tenant wanting information on your rights and duties under Ohio law, the Dayton-Montgomery County Ombudsman's Office has a page about landlord/tenant issues.

Mobile Home Park residents
rights and responsibilities

A booklet outlining your rights and responsibilities when renting mobile homes or lots in mobile home parks is available on the Ohio Legal Services website.

Equal Housing Opportunity usage guidelines

Equal Housing Opportunity Guidelines on the usage of the "Equal Housing Opportunity" logo and slogan are available online in the Services/Reference section.

Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase List

A word and phrase list intended as a guideline to assist in complying with state and federal fair housing laws is available online in the Services/Reference section.

Fair Housing Posters


Fair Housing Posters suitable for printing and displaying in your lobby or office are available to download from the Division of Real Estate of Ohio’s Department of Commerce and from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (both require Adobe Acrobat).

Reasonable Modifications and Accommodations

Have questions about what your rights or responsibilities are under the federal Fair Housing Act for persons with disabilities? Now available online in the Services/Reference section are joint statements from the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development that explain reasonable modifications and accommodations.

Service Animal Policy

A Service Animal Policy is now available available online in the Services/Reference section. The policy explains what service animals are and how they are a reasonable accommodation under the Federal Fair Housing Act and also provides practice guidelines for housing providers and for tenants.
Energy Star logo Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. To learn how you can save money in your home, visit www.energystar.gov.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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