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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: April 7, 2015 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 -c <br />SUBJECT: Fair Housing Month <br />DEPARTMENT: Housing, Human Rights, and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) <br />Community Development <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Proclamation James Davis, 245 -2488 <br />1 <br />No <br />PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating April as Fair Housing Month 2015 in <br />Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: The month of April is National Fair Housing Month. April 2015 will mark the <br />47th anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the 32nd <br />anniversary of the North Carolina Fair Housing Act. These Acts grant every person a right to <br />live where they choose, free from discrimination on the basis race, color, national origin, sex, <br />religion, familial status, or disability. <br />The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has chosen "Fair Housing is Your <br />Right. Use Iff as the theme of this year's Fair Housing Month. The chosen theme indicates <br />the importance of fair housing in the nation today and encourages residents to exercise this <br />right. <br />Established in 1987, the Orange County Human Relations Commission (HRC) is charged with <br />enforcing the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance that prohibits discrimination in housing and <br />public accommodations on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, familial status, national origin, <br />color, veteran's status and disability. <br />The HRC will have a table at the County Expo on Friday, April 10, 2015 where it will present <br />information about the federal and local fair housing laws. The HRC's mascot, Franklin the Fair <br />Housing Fox, will greet children and adults and give out buttons that promote the fair and equal <br />treatment of all persons. In its continuing effort to reduce the incidences of housing <br />discrimination, the HRC will make fair housing presentations throughout the year for residents <br />and housing practitioners, and will distribute fair housing brochures and posters throughout the <br />County, including versions translated in Spanish, Burmese and Karen. The HRC will also <br />investigate all complaints of housing discrimination filed within the County. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the <br />proclamation. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation <br />and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br />