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Now hiring — Fair Housing AnalystMVFHC is now hiring a Fair Housing Analyst. For more information, please visit our hiring page. National Fair Housing Alliance releases issue brief about fair housing, access to opportunity and the housing crisisThe Promise of the Fair Housing Act and the Role of Fair Housing OrganizationsJanuary 26, 2012 — Jorge Andres Soto and Deidre Swesnik of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) have released an issue brief, “The Promise of Fair Housing and the Role of Fair Housing Organizations,” that explores the ongoing and pervasive nature of discriminatory tactics used to deny housing opportunities to minorities, especially African Americans and Latinos.
Soto and Swesnick report that there are “at least 11,000 incidents of housing discrimination each day throughout the United States” and argue that fair housing groups and government enforcement agencies need far more support to “achieve elimination of housing discrimination in all its forms.” Discriminatory tactics in housing have resulted in a “disproporationate loss of wealth” for “communities of color,” the authors write, citing a Pew Research Center analysis indicating that between 2005 and 2009 median wealth fell 66 percent among Latino households and 53 percent among African-American households, compared to only 16 percent among white households. Attributable to this loss of wealth are “the disproportionately high rates of foreclosure among people of color,” Soto and Swesnick write, pointing to ”the pedding of high-cost subprime, predatory loans in communities of color.” The brief concludes with policy recommendations “that must be taken to address barriers to impede full functioning of the existing fair housing framework and to modernize our civil rights infrastructure as it relates to housing and the need for additional protections against discrimination.” The authors argue that the Fair Housing Act should be amended to ban discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity or because of their legal source of income. Katy Crosby named Human Relations Council Acting DirectorTom Wahlrab retiring after 18 years of city serviceJanuary 25, 2012 — The Dayton City Commission has appointed Catherine (Katy) Crosby as Acting Director of the Human Relations Council (HRC), effective February 1, 2012. Her appointment follows the planned retirement of HRC Director Tom Wahlrab on January 31.
“We are happy to appoint Katy Crosby as HRC Acting Director,” said Mayor Gary Leitzell. “She has served the Dayton community well and we are confident that she will lead the Council’s important work effectively.” City Manager Tim Riordan acknowledged retiring HRC Director Tom Wahlrab’s contributions to the City of Dayton during 18 years of service. “Tom has provided steady, community-focused leadership to the Human Relations Council,” Riordan said. “He has also overseen development of the Welcome Dayton immigrant-friendly city initiative and given that program a strong foundation for continued growth.” HRC, established by the City Commission in 1962, investigates and adjudicates discrimination complaints, implements the PEP program (providing opportunities to minority- and women-owned businesses as well as small and disadvantaged enterprises), and addresses issues that affect the disabled. HRC also operates special programs associated with the agency’s mission, such as public education programs. In addition to staff, HRC is supported by a 10-member board appointed to three-year terms by the City Commission. Miami Valley Fair Housing Center applauds President Obama’s appointment of Richard Cordray
January 4, 2012 — Jim McCarthy, President/CEO of the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, issued the following statement today about President Obama’s recess appointment of Richard Cordray as director of the
The President has courageously sided with Ohioans and strengthened our nation’s financial marketplace by making a recess appointment of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray is an exceptionally qualified nominee who has the intelligence and honesty to protect everyday Americans from the abuses that led to our current housing and financial crises. Mr. Cordray will fairly oversee the nation’s financial institutions to help restore our nation’s economic well-being. Wall Street disproportionately targeted communities of color for toxic mortgage loans. African Americans and Latinos are 75 percent more likely to experience foreclosure. As a result of foreclosures creating depreciation in nearby properties alone, African Americans and Latino communities are expected to have lost more than $370 billion in wealth by year’s end. We need a tough “cop on the beat” and we’ve got one in Richard Cordray. Congratulations to Mr. Cordray and to the American people. For more background on Cordray’s appointment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, see this op-ed, “Portman should vote to confirm Cordray.” This op-ed, by McCarthy and by Deborah Goldberg of the National Fair Housing Alliance, ran in the Dayton Daily News on December 7, 2011. Fair Housing advocates object to banks’ proposals for foreclosed homes
December 28, 2011 — The Huffington Post reported that Fair Housing advocates are objecting to
Jeremy Rosen, the National Law Center on Homeless and Poverty’s policy director, told the Huffington Post that “it’s really a question of whether the banks that made so much money creating this crisis are going to profit again.” On Monday Bloomberg reported that about 400 proposals were submitted to the Federal Housing Finance Agency by companies including UBS, Deutsche Bank and Barclays Capital. Of particular interest is a proposal from Fortress Investment Group, a private equity firm headed by Daniel Mudd, the former CEO of Fannie Mae who was sued earlier this month by the SEC for allegedly lying about the amount of risk the mortgage finance agency was undergoing during the housing boom. Critics contend that, by proposing to help the federal government sell or rent foreclosed homes it owns, Mudd’s new firm would profit from a problem he may have helped to cause. Deborah Goldberg, special projects director of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), told the Huffington Post, “The way that these houses are ultimately disposed of will have real implications for the housing market in the next few years. This is about real families, real neighborhoods and real communities.” Goldberg stressed the importance of close monitoring of foreclosed properties, saying that a report released earlier this year by NFHA and partner agencies including the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center showed how many bank-owned properties are falling into disrepair, particularly in minority neighborhoods. Goldberg said, “If the government is selling properties, it needs to be very careful about who it sells them to and the terms and conditions of those sales, and that we don’t do further damage to communities that are reeling from the impact of the housing crisis.” Rosen urged that for-profit companies such as bank should be limited in their participation in any program to manage foreclosed properties owned by the government and that instead non-profit agencies around the country develop a plan that benefits middle and lower-middle class people affected by the housing crisis. About the banks, Goldberg said, "Let’s just say their track record isn’t good.” “Families that lost their homes during the crisis are at risk of being taken advantage of again,” Rosen said. “Not everything, in terms of responding to the foreclosure crisis, has been within the control of the administration. This is fully within their control. It’s time for them to stand up for families.” December newsletter now available
The newsletter contains information about HUD funding for FY 2012, information on fair housing basics, an article on creating advertising that complies with the Fair Housing Act, and more! To receive new editions of the newsletter via e-mail, become a MVFHC member. Previous news items are available here. | Resources and useful linksDon't Risk Your Home
Watch out for predatory lending. Learn more about it by visiting dontrisk yourhome.com.
If you feel you are a victim of predatory lending and live in Montgomery County, Ohio, call the Predatory Lending Solutions hotline at 937-222-9671 if you are currently in foreclosure. If you are not currently in foreclosure, you should call the HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton at 937-853-1600. 
Reasonable Modifications and AccommodationsHave questions about what your rights or responsibilities are under the federal Fair Housing Act for persons with disabilities? Now available online in the Services/Reference section are joint statements from the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development that explain reasonable modifications and accommodations.
Affordable senior independent living communities in Dayton and Xenia
St. Mary Development Corporation manages apartment centers around Dayton and in Xenia providing affordable homes and support services for low-income seniors.For more information, visit AffordableSeniorApartments.org or download their printable brochure (in Adobe PDF format). Service Animal PolicyA Service Animal Policy is now available available online in the Services/Reference section. The policy explains what service animals are and how they are a reasonable accommodation under the Federal Fair Housing Act and also provides practice guidelines for housing providers and for tenants.Your Rights & Duties as a Tenant
Although MVFHC does not provide assistance with landlord/tenant issues unrelated to discrimination, the booklet Your Rights and Duties as a Tenant, presented by Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc., is a useful resource.
Additional Landlord/Tenant infoAlso, if you are a landlord or a tenant wanting information on your rights and duties under Ohio law, the Dayton-Montgomery County Ombudsman's Office has a page about landlord/tenant issues.Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase ListA word and phrase list intended as a guideline to assist in complying with state and federal fair housing laws is available online in the Services/Reference section.Equal Housing Opportunity usage guidelines
Guidelines on the usage of the "Equal Housing Opportunity" logo and slogan are available online in the Services/Reference section.
 
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. To learn how you can save money in your home, visit www.energystar.gov.
Special reportsCopies of special reports such as Analyses of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice released by local jurisdictions as well as other reports done by MVFHC on zoning and predatory lending are available on the reports page. |
proposals to the federal government submitted by financial and investment companies on how they can help run a program to rent out foreclosued homes.
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Copyright 2003-2012, Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, Inc.