What’s Fair in Housing? Free Fair Housing Education Session Being Held April 16 in Bel Air

From Harford County government:

Fair housing law violations happen every day:

• Sorry, but I can’t rent a one-bedroom apartment to you with your new baby due soon. You’re going to need a two bedroom unit.

• Sir, we have a no-pet policy here; you can’t have a service animal.

• The rent is usually $900 but since you have two teenagers, its $1,500.

In an effort to inform the public about their rights, a free fair housing education session will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. until noon at the Bel Air Branch of the Harford County Public Library, 100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Bel Air.

The session will cover rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, who is covered, what housing is covered, and how the law is enforced. The training is designed for the general public as well as for housing providers and is co-sponsored by the Harford County Department of Community Services (Harford County Human Relations Commission and the Harford County Commission on Disabilities), and the Harford County Housing Agency.

The training will be provided by Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., a fair housing education and advocacy organization under contract to the Harford County Department of Community Services.

“We want to make sure that Harford County residents are aware of their rights under fair housing laws, including the non-discrimination rights of families with children,” said Harford County Housing Agency Director Shawn Kingston. “We believe that educated consumers are more responsible and successful in the housing market.”

To register for the free fair housing education session, visit http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/services/FairHousingReg.cfm. To register by phone, for more information, or for disability-related accommodations, contact Sylvia Bryant at 410-638-3150. Please register by Wednesday, April 13.