GOVERNOR BALDACCI PROCLAIMS APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH
Fair Housing - It's Not an Option, It's the Law

BANGOR, ME - In recognition of the 38th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, Governor John
Baldacci issued a proclamation declaring April as Fair Housing Month in the State of Maine.

Under the Fair Housing Act, it is against the law to: Refuse to rent or sell housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability; say that housing is unavailable when in fact it is; show apartments
or homes only in certain neighborhoods; advertise housing to preferred groups only (an ad cannot say "no children"
or "no single mothers" etc.); impose different terms or conditions on a mortgage loan; refuse to make reasonable accommodations for persons with a disability; or harass, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising or assisting someone else with his/her fair housing rights.

William Burney accepted the proclamation on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
the federal agency responsible for enforcing the fair housing laws.

The Maine Human Rights Act has been determined to be substantially equivalent to the Federal Fair Housing Act,
and the Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC) enforces this law of the State of Maine to safeguard all individuals from housing discrimination.

"Recent studies have shown that many people still face housing discrimination from mortgage lenders, real estate agents and apartment rental agents," said Burney. "These practices are unacceptable and we thank Governor
Baldacci for his support as we continue to educate the public that no one should be denied the opportunity to
choose where to live."

Last year in New England, 582 fair housing cases were filed, with 243 being filed because of a disability/reasonable accommodation, 147 due to race, 146 being filed for family status, 63 because of national origin, 26 for color, 20 for sex, 22 for retaliation, and eight for religion. Last year in Maine, $220,000 in HUD funding was awarded to Pine Tree Legal Assistance to investigate allegations of housing discrimination and to educate the housing industry and the public about fair housing laws.

This month, Burney and MHRC Executive Director Patricia Ryan co-authored a letter to Maine newspaper advertising executives alerting them to the impact of the Fair Housing Act on real estate advertising. Also, information
brochures on "Reasonable Accommodation" were distributed to Maine landlords.

People who feel they have faced housing discrimination should call (800) 669-9777.

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