HUD ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIM KENDRICK VISITS ATLANTA TO MARK THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF FAIR HOUSING ACT
"Fair Housing: It's Not an Option...It's the Law"

ATLANTA - In a ceremony held at the State Capitol today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Kim Kendrick was presented a Fair Housing Proclamation
by Governor Sonny Perdue in recognition of the thirty-eight anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.

HUD Assistant Secretary Kendrick, joined by Gordon Joyner, Executive Director of the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity, the joint recipient of the proclamation, HUD Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young, and James Sutton,
HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Region IV Director, also participated in a number of other events throughout the day: The Hungry Club Forum; a Fair Housing Forum with Hurricane Evacuees and housing providers at Atlanta
City Council Chambers; a meeting at Spellman College with President Doctor Beverly Tatum; and a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District.

"The types of discrimination commonly reported today differ from the stark bias faced by those in the Civil Rights Movement 40 years ago," said Kendrick. "Discrimination today is often more subtle requiring that we develop new strategies to meet this challenge, while simultaneously educating every American that Fair Housing is not an option,
it is the law."

Passed by Congress in 1968, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale or financing of any dwelling
based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. In 1988, the law was expanded to prohibit discrimination based on disability and familial status.

In fiscal year 2005, HUD and state and local agencies funded by HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) saw an eight percent rise in the number of complaints alleging housing discrimination against persons with disabilities, making disability discrimination the most common complaint.

Complaints alleging disability discrimination make up 40 percent of the cases filed with HUD and its state and local partners while discrimination complaints based on race now comprise 38 percent of their workload. Nearly 22 percent of cases filed with HUD and FHAP agencies, more than half of the disability complaints, alleged that a housing
provider refused to make a reasonable accommodation to their rules or procedures in order to assist a person with
a disability.

HUD recently launched a national ad campaign designed to educate the public about their fair housing rights. The campaign directs people to call [HUD - (800) 669-9777, TDD (800) 927-9275] if they believe they are being discriminated against. The campaign also includes an award-winning public service announcement.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership; creating affordable housing
opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, and people with disabilities. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

Persons who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777.
Additional information is available at www.hud.gov.

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