Fair Housing Conference Set April 19

Hillsborough County will be a co-sponsor of the Housing Choices, Free of Discrimination conference, a fair housing training for housing providers, real estate agents, property managers, attorneys, government officials, apartment personnel and homeowners.

The conference will be held on Friday, April 19, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Centre Club, 123 S. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa.

The cost of the Housing Choices, Free of Discrimination conference is $35 at the door. The price includes lunch. Registration is online at www.GTAR.org or by phone at 727-464-4801.

Topics covered include:

· Fair Housing litigation and enforcement

· The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Equal Access Rule: sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status;

· Fair Housing law in today’s world: Internet ads, reasonable accommodations and modifications; and

· Diversity marketing on the Internet: what it is and how to develop a diversity-friendly website, including anti-discriminatory advertising guidelines

Special guest speakers include:

· Michael Maurer, deputy chief, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice;

· Avery Friedman, CNN legal correspondent and civil rights attorney; and

· Chuck Bonamer, National Fair Housing trainer, who will present the topic of Diversity Marketing on the Internet

Real estate agents will earn three hours of state-approved continuing education credits. Approval for CLEs for attorneys is pending.

As part of the Tampa Bay Fair Housing Consortium, Hillsborough County joins the Bay Area Apartment Association, Bay Area Legal Services Inc., City of Clearwater, City of Largo, City of St. Petersburg, City of Tampa, Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, Gulf Coast Legal Services Inc. and Pinellas County Office of Human Rights in hosting this conference.

Event sponsors are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Chase Bank, HouseMaster Home Inspectors, National Association of Real Property Managers Tampa Bay and North American Title.