Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance

Free Housing Advocate Training Day

mdavis — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:18:12 +0000

Are you a direct service provider working in the Latino community? Then you won’t want to miss Latino Policy Forum‘s free Housing Advocate Training Day, designed for ALL community advocates and direct service providers. Access to quality, affordable housing is critical for the well-being of all families, but eludes too many Latinos. An understanding of fair housing laws and the basics of affordable housing will help you better assist your clients.

FREE Housing Advocate Training Day
Monday, June 3, 2013
Latino Policy Forum Offices: 180 N. Michigan Ave (6th Floor), Chicago
Registration: 8:30am
Seminar: 9am-4pm
REGISTER HERE
TENTATIVE AGENDA

Breakfast provided and lunch sponsored by the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance. Space is limited and registration is required by May 29.

Training participants will:

Learn how to recognize signs of housing discrimination;
Gain knowledge of the intake and complaint processes;
Learn how to effectively advocate for clients who have filed a housing discrimination complaint;
Be able leverage the services offered by fair housing organizations;
Review basic characteristics of subsidized housing programs and the rights and responsibilities of tenants in affordable housing; and
Find out what a consortium of housing professionals is doing to promote integrated communities of opportunity through research, education, and advocacy.

The training is a great resource for anyone who wants to gain a working knowledge on fair housing laws, the complaint process, and learn about select affordable housing programs. Please forward this information to anyone who might be interested. Contact Juliana Gonzalez-Crussi with questions.

This housing seminar is co-sponsored and presented by staff from the following organizations:

Victory for Housing Choice Voucher Holders

mdavis — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:18:45 +0000

The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. and the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance are pleased to announce that the Cook County Board on May 8, 2013, voted to amend its fair housing ordinance to prohibit discrimination against Housing Choice Voucher holders, which we expect to open up opportunity to people of color and others with lower incomes throughout the county. This is an important step to affirmatively further fair housing in the Chicago area and is a great, hard-fought victory.

The Chicago metropolitan area remains one of the most racially segregated urban areas in the country. This shameful fact is true despite Chicago’s increasing diversity. Nationally and locally, large public housing projects have been replaced by Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly called Section 8, which are federal subsidies for low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled. These vouchers enable participants to rent quality housing in the private market. It is essential that private landlords cooperate by renting to qualified tenants with vouchers. This allows them to live in neighborhoods and towns previously inaccessible to them, while the owners are paid fair rent. This has the great potential to break down segregation based on race, ethnicity, disability, and economic status, and to affirmatively further fair housing.

Unfortunately, families with Housing Choice Vouchers in the Chicago area have been primarily concentrated in segregated, high poverty neighborhoods and towns, known as low opportunity areas. The City of Chicago has had an ordinance outlawing discrimination against voucher holders for a number of years. The Chicago and new Cook County ordinances do not require landlords to accept all applicants with vouchers, but only to decide whether to rent to them based on other qualifications such as landlord references, as well as treat them equally with other tenants after renting to them. The federal Fair Housing Act requires that government recipients of HUD funds including Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs), such as counties and cities, use those funds to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing, that is, take concrete action to break down segregation.

The new provision will open up the county’s rental housing to low income tenants, allowing them more opportunities for success and self-sufficiency than are available in segregated, high poverty areas. The Cook County Board’s decision to include Housing Choice Voucher holders as a protected class shows that the County is dedicated to affirmatively further fair housing and allowing equal opportunity for all.

Thanks to the sponsors of the bill, Commissioners Jesus Garcia, Larry Suffredin, and Robert Steele. Thanks also to Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the other commissioners who voted in favor of it.

The core advocate groups Open Communities, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Access Living, Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, and CAFHA (Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance), working with our Cook County partners, along with many other sponsoring organizations and friends, made it possible. Now on to education and enforcement.

The Fair Housing Project of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. educates people about their rights and duties under fair housing and fair lending laws, which prohibit discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, disability, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, and other bases in rental, sales, advertising, mortgage lending, and homeowners’ insurance. Project staff members investigate discrimination complaints, and provide pro bono (free) legal representation to people who want to exercise their rights and secure equal housing opportunities.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. protects and promotes civil rights by bringing the strength and prestige of the private bar to bear on the problems of poverty and discrimination. Founded in 1969, the Committee champions equal justice and community development for underrepresented people by partnering with volunteer lawyers to provide litigation and transactional representation.

By Betsy Shuman-Moore, Fair Housing Project Director

Photo by WBEZ Chicago

IDHR Fair Housing Advocates Breakfast May 8th

mdavis — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:27:24 +0000

Celebrate fair housing, hear from housing professionals, test your knowledge about the legislative process, learn how to construct your message effectively with tips from guest speaker and expert Gabriel Lopez, and network with legislators and other people doing good work!

The Illinois Department of Human Rights Fair Housing Advocates Breakfast
Hosted by: State Representatives Lisa Hernandez & Sam Yingling
Wednesday, May 8^th, 2013
8am – 10am
Springfield, IL

Registration for this event is now closed. If you have questions or for more information contact Abdi at 312-814-6278 or Hector at 217-785-5111.

Requests for reasonable accommodations based on disability must be upon registration.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee MLK to Today Reception April 25

mdavis — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:52:17 +0000

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee Cordially Invites you to an After-work Reception in Honor of Fair Housing Month

Time: 4-6pm

Date: Thursday, April 25th

Location: 100 North LaSalle Street, Suite 600

Meet and mingle with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee staff and volunteers as we celebrate fair housing month and welcome the newest member of the CLC family, Fair Housing Staff Attorney, Danielle McCain. Guests will have the opportunity to view and discuss a special collection of photographs from the Chicago Freedom Movement while enjoying wine and hor d’oeuvres.

CAFHA Geography of Opportunity Breakfast April 26th

mdavis — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:00:03 +0000

Join the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance for an exclusive breakfast that will feature new research and analysis on the geography of opportunity.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH, 2013
9:00AM – 12:00PM
CHARTER ONE
71 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, 29th Floor
CHICAGO, IL 60606

This event is OPEN TO ALL. To attend, email cafha.info@gmail.com to RSVP and for more information.

South Suburban Housing Center 38th Anniversary Celebration April 26th

mdavis — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:35:07 +0000

All Members of the fair housing community are Cordially Invited to South Suburban Housing Center’s 38^th Anniversary Celebration Fair Housing Achievement Awards Reception

Friday, April 26, 2013, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 pm

Glenwoodie Golf Club, Glenwood, Illinois

Special Guest

Robin Kelly, U.S. Representative from Illinois’ 2nd District

2013 Fair Housing Achievement Award Presentation to

Patricia R. Mahon, Deputy Village Administrator, Village of South Holland

Individual Reservations: $60, Reserve a Table of 10 for $540

Purchase Tickets by phone: (708) 957-4674, x28 or x21 or by email

CAFHA Celebrates National Fair Housing Month

admin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:40 +0000

April marks National Fair Housing Month and this year we commemorate the 45th Anniversary of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act. As part of the celebration, the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA) met at the James R. Thompson Center on Wednesday, April 3rd, for its bimonthly meeting, which highlighting the momentous Campaign to Amend the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance to include Source of Income with an engaging panel discussion.

CAFHA Board Vice President Abdi Maya of the Illinois Department of Human Rights welcomed meeting attendees and spoke about CAFHA’s mission and membership opportunities. CAFHA Board member Brendan Saunders of Open Communities served as moderator for the panel. Brendan Saunders began the discussion by explaining the importance of putting the choice back into the Housing Choice Voucher program. Families holding a Housing Choice Voucher have the ability to move into neighborhoods of greater opportunity – increasing access to transit, employment and educational opportunities – provided that laws are in place to protect against housing discrimination against voucher holders

Luis Tubens, Outreach Coordinator for 7th District Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, presented updates on the legislative process related to the Source of Income campaign, and expressed the Commissioner’s support for a more accessible government that is responsive to all resident needs. In addition, Shirley Johnson of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO) shared her expertise in organizing against housing discrimination, including advocacy, outreach techniques, and aligning political allies. Betsy Shuman-Moore of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc., elaborated on the ordinance amendment, case studies seen here in Chicago, and the legal steps required moving forward.

The dialogue also included information about discrimination cases brought forth in Cook County; the role of property management services; and the effects of incorporating voucher holders into opportunity neighborhoods. CAFHA was proud to welcome our panelists and guests for an engaging and informative morning.

We look forward to seeing your participation in our upcoming event, Friday, April 26th at Charter One in Chicago. Event attendance is limited to CAFHA members who are current on their dues. If you are a CAFHA member and would like to attend, need to update your membership, or to become a member, email CAFHA.

Photos of 2013 National Fair Housing Month Event

mdavis — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:52 +0000

How Jerry Mitchell Helped Put Four Klansmen Behind Bars

pfron@lcbh.org — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:02:22 +0000

At the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – 43rd Annual Meeting, hear guest speaker, Jerry Mitchell, discuss how he helped to put 4 Klansmen behind bars.

As investigative reporter for The Clarion-Ledger, Mitchell has unearthed documents, cajoled suspects and witnesses, and quietly pursued evidence in the nation’s notorious killings from the civil rights era. His work so far has helped put four Klansmen behind bars, including the assassin of Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers and the Klan leader who ordered the 1964 killings of three civil rights workers, commonly known as the Mississippi Burning case. For his work, Mitchell has received more than 30 national awards, including a MacArthur “genius” grant.

He is currently writing a book on his experiences for Simon & Schuster titled Race Against Time.

View Invitation Here: CLC_FullInvite 2012

CAFHA Spotlight: Rob Breymaier

pfron@lcbh.org — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:39:53 +0000

In this CAFHA Spotlight, Board President Rob Breymaier talks about his background, past mentors, and what it’s like to run the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. His time in different cities and observations on their varying levels of integration led to his interests in fair housing and equal opportunity. Rob also talks about the critical need for CAFHA and it’s important work in the region.

1.Tell us about your background, including your education, professional experience before Oak Park Regional Housing Center and what positions you have previously held?

I began my fair housing career in my hometown of Toledo, OH. Actually, I grew up in a suburb of Toledo that was almost all white. I remember as a teenager going to other schools for academic fairs and sporting events where I could see the diversity of their student bodies. I had a distinct feeling at that time in my life that I was being cheated out of a more diverse experience. It is something I carry with me to this day, even though I knew that I was also lucky to be in a good school system and a safe suburb. The nagging question in my head was why couldn’t my town be diverse too.

As a graduate student, I was lucky enough to get an internship with the Toledo Fair Housing Center. At the time, Toledo was at the center of the fair housing universe. It was where many of the landmark lending and insurance redlining lawsuits were being successfully litigated. That was due to the excellent work of my first mentor, Jennifer Teschner.

A few years later I moved to Chicago and worked at the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs. I got to do more policy work there and saw first hand how communities can perpetuate segregation by doing nothing. In other words, the communities on the North Shore have a very exclusive reputation and I got to see how that reputation was by design. When we would make suggestions of how affirmative marketing could improve racial diversity the guidance fell on deaf ears. The only exception, then, being Highland Park to a small degree.

After some time with the City of Albuquerque while my wife completed a fellowship at the University of New Mexico, we returned to Chicago and I went to work for the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities where I met my second mentor, John Lukehart. It was at the Leadership Council where I was able to expand my policy work. I had the good fortune to be there with John and be part of another landmark, the Leadership Council’s Segregation of Opportunities report that was the first of its kind to show the correlation between racial segregation and opportunity. It confirmed what many in the fair housing movement have known for years; that racial segregation is at the root of nearly every inequality in America.

I am a firm believer that we will never solve our education, employment, transportation, sustainability, and even our overall budgetary problems until we get serious about promoting racially integrated housing patterns. The geographic nature of segregation makes it all too easy to write off whole communities. And, inturn, it promotes more the inefficient sprawl that characterizes American metro areas because the written off communities effectively reduce the available land that is considered seriously in a region. Segregation is at the root of all our problems.

This is why I love working for the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. I’m not going to proclaim that Oak Park is a utopia. But, as a community, we are aware that fairness and equity are at the root of sustainability and prosperity. And, we know that integration is a prerequisite. So, on a daily basis the Housing Center works to sustain the integration of Oak Park. The key is the intentionality of Oak Park. The Housing Center is crucial to that intentionality but we also have buy-in and support from local government bodies, our schools, other community-based organizations, and importantly landlord and real estate agents who embrace fair housing as a good business strategy.

2. What are your duties as Executive Director?

The ED at a smaller organization like mine is sort of a catch all. In addition to working on administrative issues like the budget, personnel, IT, and grants, I do most of our community relations work.

My work at the Housing Center that is connected closely with CAFHA projects involves fair housing policy. We are working together to provide an assessment of fair housing and equity in the seven-county region for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Sustainable Communities Initiative planning grant. This is CAFHA’s main project for the year. The Housing Center has a Fair Housing Initiatives Program grant to provide technical assistance in western Cook County that will assist housing providers and municipalities affirmatively further fair housing. It’s exciting work as we help communities identify fair housing strategies that will improve fairness while also helping these communities as they recover from the recession. Opening up a community to a more diverse demand is a great way to increase the fiscal capacity and stability of a municipality.

3. What do you hope to accomplish in the next year? Next 5 years?

We are looking forward to continuing to assist an expanding set of communities embrace the value and benefits of promoting diversity and integration. In this coming year, we are hoping to be working with about a dozen communities to help them identify fair housing impediments and engage in activities to improve the diversity of their communities. Some of them are very open to our proposals. We are just getting started with some others. We are also about to begin a major homeownership initiative with five communities where we will counsel new home buyers and help them move to western Cook County.

4. Why do you think the work of CAFHA is important?

Without CAFHA the voice for a truly equitable and integrated region will be lost. There are so many great locally-based organizations, affinity groups, and others out there. But, CAFHA is a unique resource for the region. We provide the critical need for fair housing advocacy and guidance that is regionally based but it can be locally implemented. We can help local groups understand how their community fits into the regional picture. We can train them to be fair housing advocates in their own neighborhoods and service areas. We can connect them to federal policies. The members of CAFHA get an awful lot from being part of our alliance. We probably don’t say that enough.

We are also an important resource for governments as well. Our work with CMAP is an example of that. We’re able to ensure that they will have a great assessment of fair housing and equity in the region. And, it will ensure that the GoTo2040 plan and the Local Technical Assistance grants being awarded by CMAP will improve the region’s integration in ways that will benefit people of color and others protected by the Fair Housing Act.