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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: April 21, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Fair Housing Month <br />DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proclamation <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Shoshannah Sayers, 960-3877 <br />PURPOSE: To recognize and celebrate Fair Housing Month. <br />BACKGROUND: April 2009 marks the 41St anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 <br />and the 25th anniversary of the North Carolina Fair Housing Act, which provide for equal <br />opportunity in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Human Rights and Relations is <br />charged with investigating housing discrimination complaints and has been investigating <br />complaints under a cooperative agreement with HUD since 1999. Over the past two years the <br />Department has witnessed a significant increase in the number of cases received and resolved. <br />Human Rights and Relations will celebrate Fair Housing Month by conducting the following <br />activities: <br />- Human Rights and Relations will organize the Fifth Annual Orange County Housing Fair <br />that will include representatives from all sectors of the community who provide housing or <br />housing related services. The Fair is intended to provide information to Orange County <br />residents on the myriad of fair and affordable housing services the County provides. This <br />event is co-sponsored by the Housing and Community Development Department. <br />- Human Rights and Relations will continue its campaign to educate the community about <br />fair housing rights. To this end, the Department has collaborated with the Southern <br />Coalition for Social Justice to release a report on Heirs' Property issues in Orange <br />County. Heirs'. Property is a rarely discussed Fair Housing issue leading to the loss of <br />family property by African American families -frequently property that the families have <br />owned since the late 1800s. The report sheds light on the fact that, even in Orange <br />County, this phenomenon is still alive and well. This is the first step in a Black Land Loss <br />Prevention effort designed to educate minority families about their property rights. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: None <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the proposed <br />proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it. <br />