Fair Housing is Worth Celebrating

LETICIA SHIFFLET executive officer, Cache Valley Association of REALTORS®

April was a month for celebrations, and the world of Real Estate was no exception! Since 1968, Fair Housing Month has been celebrated to commemorate the Fair Housing Act. This law — passed in 1968 and amended in 1988 — is a federal ban on housing discrimination of any sort and prohibits inequitable treatment in the sale, rental, and financing of homes based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.

While exceptions to the Fair Housing Act exist, it’s a law that brings landlords, property managers, and others together to eradicate unjust discrimination from those seeking housing.

Communities around Cache Valley are strengthened as they band together to promote the idea that all residents should be able to “Live Free Without Discrimination.”

As with other forms of discrimination, discrimination in housing can be blatant and intentional, but statistics show that it is usually unintentional due to a lack of knowledge of local, state, and federal laws. Laws like the Fair Housing Act make the education and knowledge of a REALTOR® indispensable. In all property dealings, it’s crucial to understand the Fair Housing Act, how it is enforced, and the types of resources, support, and remedies that are available to property owners, sellers, buyers, and tenants.

The nation has come a long way over the past half-century, with REALTORS® at the forefront of an increasingly diverse country. Taking that first step toward buying or renting can feel daunting, but fair housing organizations are found throughout the country and offer guidance to help buyers and sellers avoid unnecessary stress as they navigate what can often be delicate situations. While progress has been made in the racial steering and unfair lending practices that were common, fair housing organizations still receive about 25,000-30,000 complaints each year. But as organizations and communities work to incorporate fair housing policies, segregated housing patterns can be a thing of the past as we all work toward a brighter, healthier, more unified future.

National Ability Center Discovernac.org

Explore more this summer with multi-day and overnight camps for individuals, families, and groups. All camps are safe, inclusive, and fun for people with physical, cognitive, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. Camp activities and recreation opportunities from archery, biking, and climbing to watersports, high ropes challenge course, arts and crafts, and a whole lot more are available!

Summer camps run from June 5 to September 15. We have something for everyone with a variety of camp formats:

• Discovery

• Crusaders & Adventurers

• All Access Camps (One-to-one support)

• Siblings and Intro to Siblings Camps

• Overnight for Families

Scan for a comprehensive lineup and registration process. Or call Reservations at 435-649-3991. Scholarship applications are available for those that need financial assistance.

Around the Campfire

artmuseum.usu.edu/education/index

Join the Museum of Anthropology, the Stokes Nature Center, and the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEHMA) in a summer camp for children ages 6-12. Explore how people in the West have used fire in art, culture, and nature. Learn about fire's constructive and destructive forces through team building, art-making, and outdoor activities.

The camp is $97 per child. For registration/ information visit: artmuseum.usu.edu/education/ index or email education.nehma@usu.edu.

July 10-14: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

July 31 — August 3: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.