Fair Housing

Seminar description: This new two-day training program will focus on Fair Housing within the Assisted Housing Programs with a special emphasis on the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs. The program will begin with the basics of Fair Housing, but then will take you deep into the Fair Housing process, program specific requirements, best practices, resolutions of complaints, 504 standards and processing reasonable accommodation requests. It will provide the latest information on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the newest protected class (sexual orientation), Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and other federal provisions. The seminar will also include information on cases for Fair Housing violations, voluntary compliance agreements and special conditions that may be required by HUD or DOJ.

Who should attend:

• Executive Directors
• Deputy Executive Directors
• Supervisors of both Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs
• Property Managers
• Specialists of both Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs

Learning outcomes:

• Understanding the world of Fair Housing as it relates to the Assistant Housing program
• Implementing processes and procedures to help agencies in compliance with the world of Fair Housing
• Identifying and eliminating barriers to promote Fair Housing with in the ever changing regulatory environment

Schedule:

Day 1: Registration opens at 8 a.m. Training goes from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Day 2: Training goes from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  A Proficiency Test will be administered the afternoon of Day 2.

Agenda:

Day 1: Introduction- including general principles; what is Fair Housing?; background and history; introduction to the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 and ADA; Fair Housing Enforcement (New Freedom Initiative); key provisions of the Fair Housing Act; disability/diversity awareness with emphasis on attitudinal barriers and etiquette; definition of disabled; who is protected and who is not protected; familial status; documentation of the disability or class activities, scenarios and case examples; Reduction in Barriers- standards of UFAS; ADA definitions; 7 accessibility features; visit-ability; accomodations and modifications; resonable accomodations process; UFAS checklist and activities, scenarios and case examples; The Process for Fair Housing- filing a complaint; processing a complaint; addressing the complaint; levels of proof; remedies for the case; case law; administrative options; voluntary compliance agreements; conciliatory agreements and activities, scenarios and case examples; Specifics to the HCV Program-general provisions; admission and briefing; assuring communication; outreach; applications and processing; supplemental information to the application; finding a suitable unit and extension of the voucher term.

Day 2: Continuation of Specifics to the HCV Program-  leasing form a relative; adjustments to the payment standard; rent reasonableness; adjustments to the utility allowance schedule; nondiscrimination requirements for private owners; HAP requirements; portability; HCV Homeownership provisions; adjustments to HCV HO eligibility requirements and activities, scenarios and case examples; Specifics to the Public Housing Program- equal opportunity requirements; site and neighborhood standards; Section 504 requirements; resonable modifications; eligibilty requirements; preferences; designated housing types; site-based waiting list; opening the waiting list; accepting applications; ineligibility due to criminal history; mitigating circumstances; purging/updating the waiting list; verification of factors; live-in aides and medical equipment; definition of a live-in aide; live-in aide screening; service animals/companion animals; transfers and 504 accessible units; termination/grievance process and activities, scenarios and case examples; Other provisions to Fair Housing- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); Limited English Proficiency (LEP); OIG audits and over-subsidization; sexual harassment; steering hate crimes; housing authority and other cases; assessments for Fair Housing; VCA agreements and conciliatory agreements. Proficiency Test (1.3 CEUs).

Tuition

*Applicable to registrations submitted up to 30 days before the seminar start date