Meet Kris Keniray, Associate Director of the Fair Housing Center. Kris has been working in fair housing for over 12 years and has a strong commitment to this work. Check out our interview with Kris to learn more about her experience and commitment to fair housing work.
What brought you to the Fair Housing Center?
I had been working for Fair Housing Contact Service in Akron for 7 years prior to joining the staff of the Fair Housing Center and had long admired the work of the organization including the research the agency produced which was, and still largely is, distinct among fair housing organizations.
How long have you worked here?
5 years.
Can you briefly describe your role at the Fair Housing Center?
As Associate Director, I supervise the agency’s program work including enforcement, education & outreach, research, and testing. I represent the agency in administrative complaints filed at the federal, state, and local levels and work with the Executive Director and outside counsel on agency litigation.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Using the Fair Housing Law as a tool, when appropriate, to help address housing needs or solve housing problems. Whether it’s educating a housing provider or working with a local resident to help them understand and exercise their fair housing rights, I really appreciate connecting with people and working towards an open, accessible, and integrated housing market.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My partner and I like to try new restaurants around Cleveland. We also enjoy house projects, hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and spending time with our two dogs.
If you could choose one fair housing issue that you wish people knew more about, what would it be?
Discrimination by a housing provider often takes place on a phone call or in a meeting with their tenant. If there are no witnesses, it can be difficult for a tenant to prove discrimination occurred. Because the burden of proof falls on the person who files the complaint, they need more than their word to prove discrimination. A friend who witnessed the act can be helpful. So can copies of text messages or recordings of conversations.
When these things aren’t available and additional evidence is needed, The Fair Housing Center is available to conduct an investigation into the housing provider’s practices. We may have heard from others with similar complaints; we may be able to send folks out posing as a prospective tenant to document the housing provider’s behavior; or we may conduct other research online to gather information. All of this additional research is best compiled before a complaint is filed with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) or with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC).
When complaints are filed with FHEO or the OCRC, they notify both the complainant and the respondent (the party accused) of the complaint and its allegations. We always encourage folks to contact us before they file if they need additional evidence to support their complaint. When complaints are supported by additional witnesses and evidence, they are far more likely to meet the burden of proof FHEO and the OCRC must meet to find that the housing provider violated the law.
Stay tuned for more spotlights by following the hashtag #FacesOfFairHousing on Instagram and be sure to check back for weekly content on our blog.