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Southwest Fair Housing Council briefs Parker council on testing, landlord outreach and tenant assistance
Summary
Julie Don of the Southwest Fair Housing Council told the Parker Town Council the nonprofit offers education, confidential complaint help and community testing (a form of secret‑shopping) to identify housing discrimination; she said the council can refer landlords to resources on Section 8 but the group does not itself administer Section 8.
Julie Don, a representative of the Southwest Fair Housing Council, told the Parker Town Council that the statewide nonprofit provides education, outreach and confidential assistance to people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination.
"My name is Julie Don and I work with Southwest Fair Housing Council," she said, describing the group's mission to ensure equal access to housing regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. Don said the organization offers complimentary trainings for housing providers and tenants, conducts testing to identify emerging issues, and helps negotiate conflicts between tenants and landlords.
When a councilor asked for a definition, Don described testing as a form of secret‑shopping: "testing is ... kind of like secret shopping." She also answered a councilor's question about Section 8 by saying the council's organization does not directly operate Section 8 programs but can help landlords locate appropriate resources and navigate enrollment options.
Don encouraged council members and staff to use the nonprofit as a resource and offered confidential help to anyone who believes they might have experienced discrimination. The council did not take action on the presentation; staff and councilors acknowledged the group as a local resource for education and complaint assistance.
Erica Daniels, chamber director, then reported on community events, including early registration numbers for the annual Tube Float and a ribbon cutting honoring agriculture advocate Miguel Torres; the La Paz County Fair was announced for March 12–14.
