Renters will have a chance to learn more about their rights under the Fair Housing Act in an upcoming public forum.
“Fair Housing: Rights and Remedies” will be presented by the Fair Housing Law Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, in Room 100 of the courthouse annex, 1174 Elk St., Franklin.
Topics will include prohibited practices, reasonable accommodations, assistance animals and fair housing resources. Light refreshments will be provided.
In addition to the Fair Housing Law Center, which is operated by Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, program hosts include the City of Franklin, the City of Oil City, Venango County, the Housing Authority of the City of Franklin and the Oil City Housing Authority. Because all the local entities receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development – either directly in the case of the housing authorities or in the form of Community Development Block Grant funds for the cities and the county – they must comply with the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
As part of that, each year they must:
1. Publish a Fair Housing advertisement identifying a Fair Housing Officer and informing residents of their rights under the fair housing law
2. Adopt a Fair Housing Resolution affirming the grantee’s dedication to furthering fair housing practices within its jurisdiction
3. Carry out an activity to affirmatively further fair housing
The renters’ rights program fulfills the third requirement. Activities to further fair housing by local entities in previous years include a public service radio announcement about renters’ rights with regard to service animals, and informational sessions for both landlords and real estate agents.
