HUD AND LOCAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS ASSOCIATION FORM PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE FAIR HOUSING
Partnership to help educate minority communities about their fair housing rights begins during Fair Housing Month

LOUISVILLE - In a continuing effort to end discriminatory treatment African Americans and other people of color often experience, HUD and the Louisville Real Estate Brokers Association (LREBA) today announced a new partnership to work together to promote fair housing in minority communities. In Fiscal Year 2010, 27.8% (2,820) of the 10,157 fair housing complaints HUD and its fair housing partner agencies received alleged race discrimination against blacks. At the same time, a recent HUD report showed that the nation's "worst case housing needs" increased by 3.2 percentage points among African American families.

The partnership between HUD and LREBA will help end discrimination by informing consumers in African American and other minority communities and public and private industry members about their fair housing rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. The announcement comes during the 44th anniversary of the passing of the National Fair Housing Act, which is commemorated by HUD and its partners each April.

"Let us be reminded that this is the time of the year when the nation commemorates the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The overall theme is 'Live Free,' which is a promise of a nation founded on the ideals of liberty and justice for all. Housing discrimination has no place in America and no one should be unlawfully denied the housing of their choice," said Natasha Watson, HUD Louisville Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Center Director. "Our sub-theme is 'Creating Equal Opportunity in Every Community,' which reflects FHEO's commitment to working with its fair housing partners and housing advocates everywhere to ensure that everyone who calls America home is able to live where they choose, irrespective of their race, color, national origin, gender, religion, family status, or disability."

HUD and LREBA will conduct joint seminars, workshops and forums on ways to identify unlawful sales, rental and lending and related government contracting discrimination. Additionally, they will work together to educate people in all communities about their fair housing and related government contracting rights and avenues available to them should they experience discrimination.

Furthermore, LREBA will emphasize the importance of fair housing and equal opportunity to real estate professionals as well as work with other organizations and institutions in African American communities, including faith-based groups and government agencies to distribute fair housing information.

This partnership builds upon the September 21, 2011, MOU that HUD signed with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the oldest minority real estate trade association in America that was founded to create equal housing and government contracting opportunities for every resident of the nation, regardless of race, creed, or color. Its 18,000 members, 12 regional offices, and 92 chapters (of which LREBA is one) work to help stabilize the nation's housing and urban community real estate markets, expand consumer protections, and stop the spiral of urban decay and foreclosure-related losses in minority communities.

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).

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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.