Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, April 04, 2017
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 17-041, PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2017 AS “FAIR HOUSING MONTH”
Body
I. SUMMARY
Every April, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), local communities, fair housing advocates, and fair housing organizations across the nation commemorate Fair Housing Month by hosting and conducting a variety of activities that enhance Americans’ awareness of their fair housing rights, highlight HUD’s fair housing enforcement efforts, and emphasize the importance of ending housing discrimination.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
APPROVE Resolution No. 17-041, proclaiming the month of April, 2017 to be “Fair Housing Month.”
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE no action on the matter.
IV. BACKGROUND
April 11, 2017 marks the 49th anniversary of the enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This law puts into effect a national commitment to fair housing without regard to race, color, religion, gender national origin, familial status, or disability. This law and its subsequent amendments, along with the California Employment and Housing Act of 1963, as amended (which provides additional protections for fair housing without regard to marital status, age, source of income, sexual orientation, medical condition, or other arbitrary status), prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, financing, and advertising of housing, and calls for equal opportunity for all citizens to obtain housing.
As a condition of receiving housing and community development funding from HUD, local governments such as the City of Carson are required to take steps to affirmatively further fair housing within their jurisdictions. One way in which the City fulfills this mandate is by providing a fair housing education, investigation, and enforcement program, which it does through an annual contract with the Los Angeles-based Housing Rights Center. Another way in which local governments fulfill this mandate is by preparing an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, which is a report documenting the existence of conditions within the community impacting the availability of fair housing, and outlining action steps to address the identified impediments. The update to Carson’s Analysis of Impediments is being presented for Council’s consideration and approval in a separate action at this meeting.
The City of Carson has not previously formally commemorated Fair Housing Month. However, particularly given that the annual nationwide observance coincides with the presentation of the update to Carson’s Analysis of Impediments, it is appropriate to consider a Fair Housing Month resolution at this time.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
No impact to the City.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Resolution No. 17-041 (pgs. 3-4)
Prepared by: Keith Bennett, Community Development Department