HUD ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHN TRASVIÑA AND REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR JANE C.W. VINCENT PROVIDE REAL LIFE EXAMPLES OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
HUD kicks off Fair Housing Month Campaign

WILMINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña said discrimination has no place in America at the 18th Annual Fair Housing Conference in Dover, Delaware Wednesday. The Conference was sponsored by the Delaware Division on Human Relations. With the Conference theme Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: A Call To All, Trasviña shared the work HUD has done to provide relief for discrimination victims in Renton, Washington where African American and Latino tenants were charged higher rents for the same units; in Pennsylvania where a mother was evicted for adopting a young boy; and in Alabama where a trailer owner turned off the water to a white family's unit until the young woman "lost" her black boyfriend.

"Our work creates expanded services and investments in minority, ends lending policies that discriminate against women on maternity leave and ensures that HUD dollars meaningfully promote self-sufficiency for public housing residents access to jobs and contracts for the companies who create these opportunities," said Trasviña.

Trasviña's appearance with HUD Regional Administrator Jane C.W. Vincent is part of a month long campaign to commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act.

"Celebrating Fair Housing Month is an opportunity to reflect on how far we've come, how far we still have to go and
to reaffirm HUD's commitment to fair and decent housing in inclusive, sustainable communities for all," added Vincent. "Together we can bring greater opportunity and equality to future generations."

Vincent encouraged the audience of approximately 150 local elected officials, non-profit and housing counseling agency representatives to continue their work to help further fair housing.

"Much has changed since the Fair Housing Act became law in 1968. Our country is more diverse than it's ever been. These changes have brought new challenges as we continue our fight to address inequality in housing," said
Trasviña.

Trasviña and other HUD officials will be participating at Fair Housing events across the country highlighting a national media "Live Free" campaign. HUD will use newspaper and magazine ads, as well as the latest digital media, including social networking sites, to increase the Department's efforts to educate the public and housing providers about their fair housing rights and responsibilities.

"Our society is more technologically advanced today. Therefore, his new campaign uses the latest media tools to better reach all people about housing discrimination and what to do if they experience it," said Trasviña.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in housing transactions based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or family status.

The "Live Free" campaign will run throughout the year and include Facebook ads, targeted print ads, digital videos, and podcasts that draw attention to the different types of discrimination HUD and its partner agencies see today, including discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

One case HUD handled and settled this past year involved a disabled Louisiana woman who couldn't get a home loan because the bank wouldn't allow her son, who was acting with her power of attorney, to complete the paperwork. In another recent HUD case, First National Bank of St. Louis agreed to invest more than $2.5 million in two Missouri counties and one Illinois county after the bank failed to provide services in African American neighborhoods. Examples of other HUD cases include a Wisconsin family that was denied the opportunity to view an apartment because they have children, and a New Hampshire woman who was discriminated against and insulted by her landlord because she
is married to a Hispanic man.

"It's cases like these that motivate HUD employees to investigate fair housing complaints, promote awareness of the Fair Housing Act through education and seek justice for the perpetrators of discrimination," added Vincent.

These types of cases dramatize today's fair housing challenges and highlight the importance of the Department's enforcement efforts. HUD recently awarded $40.8 million to 108 fair housing organizations and non-profit agencies to address housing discrimination, including mortgage rescue scams.

For more information about the Fair Housing Act, including summaries of recent housing discrimination cases, go to www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

###

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.