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Housing Research & Advocacy Center Applauds New Fair Housing Rule

Cleveland, Ohio – An important new fair housing regulation – aimed at promoting diverse, inclusive communities and overcoming the negative effects of segregation – was issued today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The regulation is designed to guide jurisdictions in complying with their existing obligations to “affirmatively further fair housing,” a key provision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. It requires state and local governments and housing authorities to consider how to eliminate fair housing barriers for people of color, families with children and people with disabilities.

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Supreme Court Affirms Disparate Impact Doctrine!

This morning the Supreme Court affirmed the fact that the doctrine of disparate impact applies to the application of the Fair Housing Act. This is a major victory for civil rights and all Americans seeking equal and fair access to housing in America. You can link to the court’s decision at http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/13-1371_m64o.pdf

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National Fair Housing Alliance Condemns House’s Multiple Assaults on Fair Housing – Funding Bill Attacks Local and National Efforts to Fight Discrimination

WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved a funding bill late Tuesday that will prohibit local fair housing agencies and HUD from effectively enforcing the Fair Housing Act on multiple fronts.  Lawmakers approved language that eliminates federal grant funding to local nonprofit fair housing centers making it easier for banks, landlords, and other housing providers to discriminate with impunity.  The bill also included language blocking HUD’s nearly final Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, and its disparate impact rule, both of which are important tools to stop illegal housing discrimination and promote safe and stable communities.

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Housing Center Joins NFHA in HUD Complaint Against Fannie Mae for Failure to Maintain REO Inventory in Cleveland

This morning, the Housing Center filed a complaint against Fannie Mae with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of an investigation with the National Fair Housing Alliance and 18 other NFHA member organizations. This complaint is based on Fannie Mae’s consistently poor maintenance and marketing of its properties in middle- and […]

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Housing Center Files HUD Complaint Against Fannie Mae Over Neglected Properties

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and 19 local fair housing organizations announced the filing with HUD of a housing discrimination complaint against Fannie Mae, one of the largest owners of foreclosed homes in the United States. The civil rights groups allege that Fannie Mae maintains and markets its foreclosures (also known as real estate owned or “REO” properties) in White neighborhoods consistently better than in middle- and working-class African American and Latino neighborhoods, a practice that violates the federal Fair Housing Act. The complaint is the result of a five-year investigation.

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Higher demand, lower wages reduces ‘buying power’ for Cleveland-area renters – By Judy Stringer, Cleveland.com

May 10, 2015

If it seems harder to find your dream apartment – or afford it – you are not imagining things.

In Cuyahoga County, the overall demand for rental housing is increasing, according to a recently released report from the Cleveland-based Housing Research and Advocacy Center. The Housing Center’s analysis finds that while the county’s population dipped 8 percent between 2000 and 2010, those that remained and new residents showed an increasing preference for renting. In that time period, owner-occupied housing fell 8 percent and renter-occupied housing increased 1.3 percent.

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NFHA Report Links Fair Housing to Health, Education, Transit, Wealth, and Job Opportunities

WASHINGTON, DC–Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) released its 2015 Fair Housing Trends Report, “Where You Live Matters.”  The report features the importance of fair housing in ensuring access to a quality education, transit options, health care, job opportunities and healthy food.  The report also discusses the state of fair housing from a national perspective, with chapters exploring the latest data on housing discrimination, highlights of recent enforcement actions, current public policy shaping access to housing opportunity and recommendations for advancing fair housing nationwide.

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Alert – Independence Realtor Training Relocated to Independence Civic Center

Please note that due to a heating problem, the Independence Realtor Training that will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 12:30 will not be held at the library. It will be held at the Independence Civic Center which is adjacent to the library. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Parking is available in the […]

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Ashtabula County Rental Factbook 2015 Released

The 2015 Ashtabula County Rental Factbook offers helpful information for housing providers and consumers about affordable housing and renters in Ashtabula County. Research Associate Michael Lepley, Research Intern Khalid Ali, and Senior Research Associate Mandy Mehlman a provide a useful snapshot of rental housing and demographic information for every city. The Housing Research & Advocacy […]

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New Cuyahoga County Rental Factbook Released

The new Cuyahoga County Rental Factbook promises to be a resource that housing professionals, advocates and consumers will want to keep close at hand. Readers will find a substantial amount of detailed demographic and housing information about Cuyahoga County and all of its communities that could be useful for planning, research and advocacy efforts. The […]

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Fair Housing Education Opportunities Abound

This spring the Housing Center will present a number of fair housing educational opportunities – workshops, seminars, presentations and a fair. Please take a look at our Events page to find a program that is convenient for you. Many of our programs offer continuing education credits, too. Programs are added regularly, so please check back […]

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Know Your Rights: Disparate Impact Blog Posts and NFHA Resources

On January 21st, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc.  The question before the court is whether the disparate impact standard can be used under the Fair Housing Act.  In short, disparate impact says that a policy that appears neutral on its face may be discriminatory if it has a disproportionate negative impact on members of a protected class under the Fair Housing Act.

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Westfield Insurance Partners with the Housing Center to Advance Equal Opportunities in Housing

The Housing Center is expanding its consumer education program through a grant from Westfield Insurance, to reach more low-and moderate-income individuals, increase equal access to housing opportunities, and revitalize communities. Each year in Northeast Ohio, there are over 33,000 instances (reported and unreported) of housing discrimination. Many people do not know that fair housing laws […]

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Equality Ohio Supports New LGBTQ Brochure

Equality Ohio has generously supported the creation of a new brochure for consumers: Fair Housing for the LGBTQ Community. The brochure is available on the Housing Center’s website at https://www.thehousingcenter.org/publications/brochures/ A map illustrating the communities that include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes accompanies the brochure posting. The Housing Center is grateful to […]

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