Deltona Hosts Community Meeting to Address Fair Housing and Discrimination Issues

The Deltona Housing Workshop, held on May 16, 2023, focused on educating residents about fair housing and the development of a housing equity plan. The meeting aimed to engage community members in discussions about housing discrimination and gather their insights on fair housing issues in Deltona.

The workshop began with an overview of fair housing, emphasizing the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in real estate transactions based on seven federally protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. It was noted that while Florida does not have additional protected classes, local governments can establish their own, and currently, Deltona has not adopted any beyond the federal standards.

Participants were informed about the concept of housing discrimination, which can manifest in various forms, such as refusal to sell or rent based on discriminatory reasons, imposing different terms for identical properties, or providing misleading information about housing availability. Specific examples included landlords denying rental opportunities based on a tenant's race or familial status, as well as practices like "steering," where realtors guide clients toward specific neighborhoods based on race.

The workshop also introduced the acronym AFFH, which stands for "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing," and outlined the process for developing the housing equity plan. Attendees were encouraged to participate in small group discussions to share their perspectives and experiences, which would inform the creation of the equity plan and help identify fair housing solutions tailored to the community's needs.

Overall, the meeting served as a platform for residents to voice their opinions and contribute to the ongoing efforts to address fair housing issues in Deltona, with the goal of fostering a more equitable housing environment for all residents.