Marion County Fair Housing Summit Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act

Community Legal Services of Mid Florida Attorney Kimberly Sanchez received the ceremonial check presented by HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett.

As the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and partners recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, on April 6th Marion County, City of Ocala, Ocala/Marion County Association of Realtors, and Ocala Housing Authority joined forces to present a Fair Housing Summit.

HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett was the keynote speaker to the daylong celebration, which also included a detailed training on Fair Housing highlighting protected classes, diversity web tools and marketing on the Internet.

Cleveland Leggett spoke about the Past, Present and the Future of Fair Housing to an audience of about 200 attendees that included housing providers, realtors and community organizations from the area. The theme for the year-long celebration is The Fair Housing Act: 50 Years of Opening Doors, which emphasizes the critical role the Act has played in giving every person an equal chance to obtain the housing of their choice.

All discriminatory policies and practices stain the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of women to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from sexual harassment. Another form of discrimination HUD is particularly active in addressing is discrimination against families with children.

As HUD Secretary Ben Carson and SE Regional Administrator Cleveland-Leggett indicate, housing is what enables families to feel grounded; to have a sense of security and consistency. HUD is doing more to expand housing opportunities for families and single mothers with children, including vigorously pursuing complaint-driven enforcement actions.

To help support HUD's efforts in this area, the Department last month awarded more than $38 million to organizations that conduct intake, testing, and investigation and litigation of fair housing complaints, including complaints alleging familial status discrimination. The state of Florida received over $2M of those millions. Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, a partner organization that also provided the Fair Housing training received two grants, one for $125,000 for Education and Outreach, and one for $300,000 for Private Enforcement Initiatives.

To learn more about #FairHousingis50 visit www.hud.gov/fairhousingis50

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