As a teacher of fair housing law, I try to research and read as much as possible to keep up on what is going on out there and what is relevant for our industry.  As a result, I see not only industry-based information and general news (as do many of you); I also get information from fair housing organizations and advocates (and many of you do not likely see this particular information).  It is from this second category of resources that I have gleaned some information that should cause our collective ears to perk.

For decades now I have been advocating “doing it right” as to fair housing for three reasons.  First and foremost, because it is the right thing to do.  Second and third (or is it secondly and thirdly?) because not doing it right can cost you a lot of MONEY and can cost YOU a lot of money.

But now there is another reason to do it right, and that is because fair housing advocates are always looking for creative ways to wage what they believe to be the good and necessary fight to combat continuing housing discrimination.  And some of their ideas could and likely would impact you and your organization.  What ideas might those be?  Let me share a couple (‘tis still the season of giving)…from an article in “Poverty & Race”, Volume 22, No. 5, by Fred Freiberg (Field Services Director at the NYC-based Fair Housing Justice Center).  Mr. Freiberg posits that perhaps policymakers and government officials should explore new laws or regulations (oh, joy).  Two of them caught my eye:

• Should the government better regulate and more closely monitor how housing is advertised and marketed for rent or sale and require disclosure of the entity making the housing available to consumers?
• Should rental housing providers and property management companies that control access to multi-family buildings be licensed and regulated by states?

These ideas should concern you, not because you engage in unlawful advertising or marketing (if you do, then fie – you are the problem) or that you would not manage and operate your community with fair housing compliance, but because these ideas raise the ante, requiring more government involvement, interference and costs.

I suspect that those that read my blogs are predominately the onsite and related management teams – the foot soldiers, if you will, on the front lines or those creating policies and procedures for the front line folks.   If that describes you, then first and foremost thank you for reading what I have written.  And now a favor – route this on (copy and paste into an email, copy and paste onto a box of chocolates or cookies, fax it, or send it by carrier pigeon) to upper management.  This particular blog needs to be seen by owners and executives (not because I wrote it, but because sometimes owners and upper management do not understand the impact of fair housing on their organization from a business standpoint).  Fair Housing Lady sends her thanks for your doing that.