FAIR HOUSING STATEMENT
This organization shall be guided by the Equal Housing Opportunity Statement, which is:
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of United States policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or people with disabilities.
All staff members shall adhere to our policy which is to: Obey all applicable federal, state and local fair housing laws; refrain from discrimination regarding any application for housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital or familial status, national origin, physical or mental handicap (must possess capacity to enter into legal contract), creed, marital status, public assistance status and sexual orientation; and affirmatively promote fair housing. Governing laws shall include the provisions of Title of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC 2000d et seq.), Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 USC 3601 et seq.), and the Fair Housing Amendments of 1988, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the American with Disabilities Act, Title “Vi” to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 and the Equal Opportunity Act of 1974 as they relate to FMHA and the provisions of the Rumford Act and Unruh Act in California law.
All advertising shall conform to Section 804 (c) of title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 USC 3604 (c)), as amended, which makes it unlawful to make, print or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling, that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination.
All advertising shall contain the Equal Housing Opportunity Logotype, statement or slogan. In all space advertising, the Equal Housing Opportunity Logotype, statement or Slogan shall be of a size, which conforms to the standards of Fair Housing Advertising. Any human models used in photographs, drawings or other graphic techniques shall portray persons in an equal social setting and shall indicate that the housing is open to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital/familial status and people with physical or mental disabilities (must possess capacity to enter into legal contract), creed, marital status, public assistance status, and sexual orientation: and is met for exclusive use of one such group.
All signs erected on the project site shall contain the Equal Housing Opportunity Logotype in a size, which are clearly visible (3 to 5 percent of sign size).
The Fair Housing Poster and the Equal Housing Opportunity Logotype shall be prominently displayed in the rental office and in common area of building.
A copy of the approved Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan shall be posted in the rental office.
Minority or non-minority people shall not be limited to a part of the housing project on the basis of race. All groups, minority, non-minority, public assistance, working, single, married, elderly, people with disabilities and family should be spread as equitable throughout the project.
Processing procedures shall be uniform for all persons. There shall not be different procedures utilized on the basis of race or national origin.
Staff shall make positive efforts to provide all applicants with all assistance and information that they may need. Each applicant shall be given a written copy of processing procedures, i.e., application review, determination of eligibility, credit check, etc., and the time required for processing.
The marketing efforts shall be monitored to assure the marketing is attracting the desired mix of applicants, particularly those identified as least likely to apply. Marketing strategies shall be adjusted as necessary to attract the desired mix of applicants.
An affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan has been submitted and approved for your particular project. It is the purpose of this plan to show how we intend to attract and assist people who may be subject to housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, martial or familial status, national origin or people with physical or mental disabilities (must possess capacity to enter into legal contract) and assure them that there is housing available for them at our project. It is incumbent on us to make certain that all groups are given the opportunity to at least have the knowledge that out housing complex exists and that they will not be discriminated against on any basis. It is the philosophy of this company that we not only comply with the letter of the law and do everything possible to help the people who have in the past been discriminated against in the area of housing.
The marketing plan for your project may include:
1. Newspaper advertisements that are attractive, descriptive and contain the Equal Housing Logotype or Slogan. Ads should also be run in any foreign language newspapers when available. See affirmative fair housing marketing plan for specific publications.
2. Newspaper articles that describe the project site and its eligibility requirements. Newspapers are often glad to write news stories on development of this kind as a part of their community relations program.
3. Radio advertisements can be either paid or free public service announcements. Foreign language stations should be used when available.
4. Posters, which are attractive and contain descriptive information on the project and the Equal Housing Logotype, can be placed throughout the community in such places as:
Grocery Stores Food Stamp Office
Social Security Office Churches
Employment Offices Neighborhood Bulletin Boards
Dept. of Human Services
5. Fact sheets can be mailed or delivered to organizations with the ability to distribute them such as:
Churches
Community Organization
Senior Citizen Groups
6. A large attractive sign will be located in a conspicuous location on the project site and will contain the Equal Housing Logotype.
7. A representative of the project (usually the manager) who is thoroughly familiar with the eligibility requirements, application process, tenant selection criteria, and tenant certification procedures can be scheduled to speak at community gatherings and meetings.
All personnel must be willing to take the time to explain the housing program and how the different requirements work to benefit the potential tenant and the success of the project. Once this is understood, reasonable applicants will be willing to provide required information.
It is required that all members of the on-site staff who will be involved in any marketing, tenant selection or application processing read and become thoroughly familiar with the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan for their project.
Management as well as the agency governing your project will carry out periodic surveys to make certain that you are making every effort to attract people who may not otherwise apply for housing in your project.
REMEMBER: FULLY DOCUMENT ALL OF YOUR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
I have read the above Fair Housing Statement and agree to abide by all Fair Housing Laws.
Employee Date