Groups Join together to Promote Fair Housing in Austin

Austin, TX: The City of Austin, the Austin Human Rights Commission, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and the Austin Tenants' Council announce today they will partner together to conduct Fair Housing outreach in the City of Austin during the months of February through August, 2003 to remind Austin citizens of their housing rights.

Some of the avenues the team will use include advertising in local newspapers, including minority publications, and the use of Billboards. Billboards will be located throughout the city at the following locations: East 7th Street, North Lamar near Braker, and South Lamar near Oltorf Street.

The Federal Fair Housing Act, the Texas Fair Housing Act and City Ordinance recognize the inalienable right of each individual to obtain housing without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status. Under the city ordinance the following protected classes are added: Status as a student, sexual orientation, marital status and age. Denial of any housing because of the aforementioned protected classes is/and can be construed as discriminatory and a formal charge of discrimination can be filed with the Austin Human Rights Commission.

The Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office's mission is to provide housing, community development, and small business development services to benefit residents so they can have access to livable neighborhoods and increase their opportunities for self-sufficiency.

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation was created in 1979 and assists Austin citizens with first-time homebuyer and home repair programs. The AHFC's primary mission is to generate and implement strategic housing finance solutions to benefit low-and moderate-income residents of the City of Austin.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Julie Beggs, (512) 974-3121 (voice) or (512) 802-7108 (pager)