Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Significant housing cost burden for low and moderate income families; Lack of affordable units. Raise awareness of fair housing laws;Incr of access. http://www.tjpdc.org/housing/fairHousingAnalysis.asp
Extractions: The City of Charlottesville and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission prepared this Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice as part of their commitment to "affirmatively furthering fair housing." The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is a companion document to the Consolidated Plan and seeks to illustrate the current fair housing profile of the area, identify impediments to fair housing choice, describe current public and private fair housing programs in the region, and make recommendations to overcome the stated barriers. Impediments to fair housing choice are defined as any actions, omissions, or decisions taken because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin that restrict housing choices or the availability of housing choice, or any actions, omissions or decisions that have this effect. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for all recipients of HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The member governments of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District (Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson, and the City of Charlottesville) entered into an agreement to participate in the HOME Program as a Consortium, and, therefore receive annual entitlement HOME funds available on an equal share basis available to each participating government. The City of Charlottesville has been designated the lead agency for the HOME Consortium and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission the designated Program Manager for the Consortium. The City of Charlottesville is a CDBG entitlement community and receives annual CDBG funds to be used within the City.
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and national origin, as well as fair housing laws and protections year anniversary of providing affordable housing for low and moderate income residents in http://www.tjpdc.org/housing/index.asp
Extractions: TJPDC works with local government agencies and non-profit organizations to coordinate local initiatives on housing and human services and to develop effective and efficient solutions to our region's housing and human service needs. TJPDC is involved in a variety of housing and human service activities aimed at improving the quality of life of the region's residents. Our projects include administering federal housing rehabilitation, regional housing planning and home ownership program funds entitled to the region, convening government agencies and non-profit organizations addressing homelessness in the region, and coordinating regional services for people with disabilities. Select a button on the left to learn more about TJPDC's work in housing and human services. The first regional forum on homelessness was a huge success. Over 140 service providers, concerned citizens, volunteers, and people who were homeless met to identify gaps in regional services and to develop strategies to address them. TJACH will release a report in May on the results of the forum. Thanks are due to First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville for graciously hosting the event and providing invaluable assistance. The FY2004-2005 Action Plan is now available for public comment in the right column of the Cosolidated Plan page. The Annual Action Plan identifies specific housing and community development projects to be undertaken in 2004-2005. These projects reflect a one-year implementation plan consistent with the five-year goals approved in the 2003 Consolidated Plan.
URBAN ISSUES - HOUSING (Gotham Gazette. February 23, 2004) Al Sharpton. Sharpton supports housing assistance for lowincome families and promises to enforce fair housing laws. George W. Bush. http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/feature-commentary/20040223/202/884
Extractions: full name February 23, 2004 URBAN ISSUES - HOUSING Edwards proposes an American Dream Tax Credit that would offer low and moderate income families up to $5,000 to help cover the cost of a down payment when buying a home. He also supports increasing funding for section 8 vouchers and the enforcement of fair housing laws. Edwards supports Community Block Grants to improve neighborhoods. Kerry proposes an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that would create 1.5 million rental apartments over ten-years. He also proposes a Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit that would encourage the construction and rehabilitation of 500,000 homes over the next ten years. Kerry also promises to enforce fair housing laws. Kucinich wants to create a housing trust fund to build 1.5 million new apartments and houses over ten years. He also proposes restoring full federal funding for Department of Housing and Urban Development's section 8 vouchers. He promises to enforce fair housing laws.
HUD: Self Evaluation -- I. Introduction assistance for lowincome persons; programs to create, rehabilitate and maintain the nation s affordable housing; enforce fair housing laws; help homeless http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/final/hudintro.html
Extractions: on Executive Order 13217 Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). The Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) Office of Housing Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Office of Policy Development and Research Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD or the Department) is the Federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs; that improve and develop the Nation's communities; and enforce fair housing laws. HUD's mission is to ensure a decent, safe and sanitary home and suitable living environment for every American. HUD has programs to create opportunities for homeownership; provide housing assistance for low-income persons; programs to create, rehabilitate and maintain the nation's affordable housing; enforce fair housing laws; help homeless persons; spur economic growth in distressed neighborhoods; and help local communities meet their development needs. The primary programs administered by HUD include mortgage and loan insurance through the Federal Housing Administration; Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to help communities with economic development; job opportunities and housing rehabilitation; HOME Investment Partnership Act block grants to develop and support affordable housing for low-income residents; rental assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which benefits low-income households; public or subsidized housing for low-income individuals and families; homeless assistance provided through local communities and faith-based and other nonprofit organizations; and fair housing public education and enforcement.
Extractions: Fighting Back Against Housing Discrimination More than 30 years after passage of the federal Fair Housing Act, housing discrimination continues to harm millions of Americans. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that each year 2.5 million people are victims of housing discrimination. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status (with children under 18) and disability. The law covers many kinds of housing transactions, including rentals, home sales, mortgage lending, homeowner's insurance, home improvement and zoning. In some states and municipalities, fair housing laws also protect residents from discrimination based on sexual preference and/or age. If you believe you were treated unfairly in a rental or real estate transaction because of who you are, you have a right to file a housing discrimination complaint. Call HUD at 1-800-669-9777 for information about filing a complaint.
Fair Housing: Tenant Screening is the mechanism for ensuring that a lowincome family can income to reflect the taxable income a person is problematic from a disparate/fair-housing standpoint http://www.metrokc.gov/dias/ocre/screen.htm
Extractions: By Omar Barraza This article focuses on the importance of thorough and consistent screening to ensure that you comply with both fair housing and good business practices. While this article cannot take the place of good, sound legal advice, I hope my fair housing frame of mind can be food for thought. If an applicant wants to apply for tenancy, you can present your screening policy to him/her for review. An applicant can decide for him- or herself if he/she wants to apply. Before we get into criteria to consider in your screening policy, let's take a moment for applications. In general, it is safer to take applications on first-come, first-served basis. While some housing providers prefer to accept a block of applications and then choose from that pool, the first-come, first-served policy is a common business practice. For example, when you go to buy a new car, dealers take applications on a first-come, first-served basis. They measure the application against a basic set of criteria before committing to a sale.
Fair Housing: Section 8 on Section 8 have no jobs or lowpaying jobs if the tenants income drops, their portion of the If you have questions about fair housing laws and enforcement http://www.metrokc.gov/dias/ocre/section8.htm
Extractions: "We don't take Section 8 renters!" Some property owners and managers have made these and other similar statements to prospective renters who hold Section 8 certificates or vouchers. The Section 8 Program is a public/private partnership started in 1974 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to offer an alternative to public housing projects. The program allows income-eligible people to live in privately owned housing with public financial assistance. Rather than creating areas with predominantly low-income families, the Section 8 Program helps prevent "ghettoization" and the stereotyping of low-income individuals by creating mixed-income neighborhoods throughout the city. The Section 8 Program is administered by housing authorities and has been very successful in providing assistance to families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. People who possess or use a Section 8 certificate or voucher are protected from discrimination in unincorporated King County by the King County Fair Housing Ordinance, as well as in Seattle by the Seattle Open Housing Ordinance.
FHLP Success That group will be notified of current lowincome housing opportunities and will receive to make sure its staff is trained in the fair housing laws and to http://www.lawfoundation.org/fhlp_success.htm
Extractions: Contact Us Fair Housing Law Project - Success Stories Racial Discrimination in Rental Housing Remedied An African-American woman rented an apartment in San José by telephone and moved her four children here from Sacramento. When she arrived in person to pick up the keys, the owner hesitated, then refused to rent her the apartment. The family became homeless, living in their car for several weeks. Testing confirmed differential treatment based on race. FHLP resolved the familys subsequent federal lawsuit through negotiation. The owners agreed to attend fair housing training, institute a nondiscrimination policy, create trust funds for the children, and compensate FHLP for its attorney fees. Clown-Landlords Discrimination Against Families with Children Halted A woman attempted to rent an apartment for herself and her 20-month-old daughter, but the owner told her that the apartment was not healthy for children because it had asbestos and lead paint, and children under seven were not welcome. Another woman who rented an apartment from the same owner was hassled and charged more for her monthly rent because her 15-year-old son was living with her. FHLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of both women and their children for familial status discrimination. The suit settled for compensation for the families, attorney fees, and an agreement that the owner will sell his properties and go out of the rental business. Ironically, the landlord moonlights as a children's clown for rent.
Housing to build or rehabilitate rental housing for low and moderate income Georgia residents Georgia fair Lending Act (GFLA) Georgia housing Finance Authority (GHFA http://www.dca.state.ga.us/housing/
IHDA Housing Tax Credits types of affordable housing advocates a fair shot at tax program (in this case, housing) is unprecedented making concerning each state s lowincome housing needs http://www.ihda.org/lihtc.htm
Extractions: Frequently Asked Questions... Why did Congress enact the Housing Credit law in 1986? Congress created the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (also known as the federal Housing Credit program) because building and rehabilitating apartments costs too much in the private market to rent at rates low-income families can afford. The Housing Credit makes apartments affordable for working people with below-median incomes. How do Housing Credits differ from other federal housing programs?
Housing lowincome Homeownership Examining the Unexamined Goal Research Methodology, and fair-Lending Enforcement Recent housing Research Is housing unaffordable? http://www.realtor.org/VLibrary.nsf/pages/housing?opendocument
Fair Housing Grants To Continue Fight Against Housing Bias minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for lowincome Americans; and community development as well as enforces the nation s fair housing laws. http://www.realtor.org/divweb.nsf/Pages/grants?OpenDocument
Housing Crisis For Seniors In Los Angeles provides various service programs including rent subsidies for lowincome residents, seniors and fair market rent. Information on rental housing developments. http://www.la4seniors.com/housing.htm
Extractions: Housing Crisis, Evictions, Homelessness Finding affordable housing is currently a difficult problem for seniors in Los Angeles. You can contact the Multipurpose Senior Center closest to you for assistance with housing in your community. Finding affordable housing and dealing with the eviction of long-term senior tenants are among the most difficult problems currently affecting elders and senior centers in the Los Angeles area. Several elements contribute to the current housing crisis for seniors: A shortage of affordable apartments, Rising market-rate rents, Rent control laws (Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood) In Los Angeles, the law prevents landlords from raising rents more than 3% per year until a tenant moves out. The law also allows landlords to evict tenants in order to make repairs of $10,000 or more per unit. It has become increasingly profitable for landlords to consider this option to replace long-term tenants with low rents. Changes in federally subsidized housing programs that make it easier for landlords to stop participating in them.
FedLaw - Housing, Landlord Tenant lowincome housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of Implementation of the housing for Older Persons USC 3601-3619 (National fair housing Advocate http://www.thecre.com/fedlaw/legal18.htm
Sunnyvale Fair Housing And Rent Mediation Service of Sunnyvale housing Division Programs The housing Division provides programs that offer various housing opportunities to for low to moderate income families. http://www.housing.org/page21.html
Extractions: The Housing Division provides programs that offer various housing opportunities to for low to moderate income families. The Housing Division also offers low interest loans and grants to Sunnyvale homeowners for remodels and repairs. These loans and grants are available to qualifying Sunnyvale residents (low to moderate income families, seniors, or disabled citizens). The following is a brief description of these services. Low Interest Loans and Grants Sunnyvale has also been active in addressing issues of neighborhood quality. We offer a number of creative financing programs to assist property owners in making building improvements. Each of our programs are designed to make needed renovations affordable for low to moderate income homeowners or for disabled low income tenants. The range of services is designed to help make property improvements as easy as possible. With assistance from the City of Sunnyvale you can make those long-needed repairs while improving the value of your property. Other services the Housing Division offers include information for emergency housing and services and general information on social services provided by the Housing Division
Fair Lending Alert by and affordable for very low income households. a minimum of 20 percent of income for their The project must comply with fair housing laws and affirmatively http://www.ffhsj.com/fairlend/fhlbc.htm
Extractions: Chicago, Illinois 60601 Community Investment Program WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM? The Community Investment Program (CIP) features below market advances (loans) designed to finance housing for low and moderate income households, or to finance commercial and economic development projects that benefit low and moderate income households and/or neighborhoods. WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE FUNDS? Financial institutions in Illinois and Wisconsin that hold stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. This includes savings institutions, commercial banks, and credit unions who are members of the Bank. HOW MAY THE FUNDS BE USED? Funds may be used to: Finance home purchases by families whose incomes do not exceed 115 percent of median income for the area. Finance the purchase or rehabilitation of housing for rental by families whose incomes do not exceed 115 percent of median income for the area. Finance commercial and economic development projects that benefit low and moderate, income families or activities that are located in low or moderate income neighborhoods.
Fair Housing Laws And Regulations lowincome families are often rent burdened, living in over-crowded, unsafe, unsanitary In response to the housing needs in Geauga County, we developed http://www.geaugalink.com/socserv/habitat.html
Extractions: About us . . . GEAUGA COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, INC. is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. In covenant with Habitat for Humanity International, our mission is "to work in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with God's people in need by building and renovating houses, so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which God's people can live and grow into all that God intended." The Habitat Program Using volunteer labor and donated money and materials, Habitat builds simple decent homes with qualified partner families. We sell the home at no profit and finance the purchase with a no interest loan. Mortgage payments are reinvested into the program to fund future building projects. Though non-traditional, Habitat is not a give-away program. In addition to the monthly mortgage payments, partner families contribute a minimum of 500 "sweat equity" hours to the actual construction of their future home and the homes of other Habitat families. This hands on approach and the fellowship that develops is one of the keys to success in changing lives. Habitat's mission is not just to build new houses but to build relationships with families and communities.
Fair Lending Laws And Regulations LAWS AND REGULATIONS. of the propertys location in lowincome and minority National fair housing Advocate Online http//www.fairhousing.com/legal_research/fha http://ipl.unm.edu/flc/laws.htm
Extractions: LAWS AND REGULATIONS Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (12 USC 2901 et seq.) encourages certain regulated financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of their entire communities, including low-and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operations. Congress passed the CRA in 1977 to end the practice of redlining, or the denial of credit on property because of the propertys location in low-income and minority neighborhoods. National Fair Housing Advocate Online http://www.fairhousing.com/legal_research/fha/index.htm Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) http://www.occ.treas.gov/crainfo.htm The Fair Housing Act (FHA) The Fair Housing Act was originally enacted as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. The Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in the sale, rental, advertising of dwellings, in the provision of brokerage services, or financing of any dwelling on the basis of race, color, religion, national origins, sex, handicap, or familial status. National Fair Housing Advocate Online http://www.fairhousing.com/legal_research/fha/index.htm
FRB: Speech, Gramlich -- Predatory Lending -- April 14, 2000 Edward M. Gramlich At the fair housing Council of The Department of housing and Urban Development (HUD the everpresent needs of these low-income borrowers for http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2000/200004142.htm
Extractions: April 14, 2000 Predatory Lending But with the good news there is also bad news, or at least sobering news. Just as the expansion of subprime lending has increased access to credit, the expansion of its unfortunate counterpart, predatory lending, has made many low-income borrowers worse off. The distinction is important. Subprime lending refers to lending to borrowers who do not qualify for "prime" rates, those rates reserved for borrowers with virtually blemish-free credit histories. Prime loans are often described as "A" credits, and the mortgage industry has adopted a grading scheme for subprime that extends from A-minus through D. Premiums range from about 1 point over prime for A-minus loans to about 6 points over prime for D loans. These premiums have been questioned, and some have argued that many low-income borrowers are still charged too much; but long-run forces may eliminate inappropriate spreads. We would normally expect that premiums in a market as competitive as mortgage lending would at least move toward appropriate levels over time. The ultimate difference between subprime and predatory lending comes back to the competitive assumptions. If one is a market optimist and believes that both lenders and borrowers are rational and well-informed, then subprime credit markets with proper rate differentials will open up. If one is a market pessimist and believes that borrowers are not well-informed and may not be fully rational, then some lenders will have opportunities to exploit these borrowers with predatory practices. Distinguishing positive subprime lending from negative predatory lending is obviously important, particularly for regulators trying to encourage one type of lending and discourage the other.
Renter About 800) 6699777, or visit HUD s fair housing Web site. directory of services, including housing information for parents and families, and low income people across http://www.mhfa.state.mn.us/renters/renter_about.htm
Extractions: Tenant-Based Housing Subsidies / Housing Choice Vouchers The Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) - Assists families with children, youth, and single adults who are homeless or are imminent risk of homelessness. This list provides contact numbers for local coordinators of the program. Emergency Assistance is available through Minnesota County Human Services Office s . Income-eligible families may generally apply for Emergency Assistance once per year. Assistance with utility bills is available for income-eligible households. Minnesota Energy Assistance Program Providers also include Community Action Organizations that offer housing help in a variety of ways. Many Community Action Agencies also offer homelessness prevention, rental assistance, and tenant education.
