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Fair Housing Board briefs council and schedules April 17 summit
Summary
Dr. Melanie Shorter of the Fair Housing Board told the council about the Fair Housing Act's scope, cited prohibited practices, said civil penalties start at $11,000, and announced a Fair Housing and Civil Rights summit on April 17 (8 a.m.–5 p.m., $75). Council voted to accept the report.
Dr. Melanie Shorter, introduced as a Fair Housing Board member, briefed the Fayetteville City Council on the scope of the Fair Housing Act and upcoming local programming on March 9.
"The Fair Housing Act was enacted as a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968," Dr. Shorter said, and she summarized later amendments that added sex, disability and familial status as protected classes. She described housing discrimination to include practices such as mortgage lending discrimination, blockbusting, segregation, redlining and different screening procedures.
Dr. Shorter announced that the Fair Housing Board will host a Fair Housing and Civil Rights summit called "Freedom Begins With Us" on April 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the event fee is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. She also noted that the board is a quasi-judicial body of five members and said civil penalties start at $11,000.
During the meeting Councilmember Haire moved to accept the Fair Housing report; Councilmember Jones seconded the motion and the clerk announced the vote was unanimous.
The report was received as presented; council did not make further policy changes in this session based on the presentation. The Fair Housing Board requested the council accept the report and promoted the April 17 summit as an educational event for residents and practitioners.
