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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRAGT <br />Meeting Date: April 18, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~0'CA <br />SUBJECT: Fair Housinq Month <br />DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Proclamation Milan Pham, 960-3877 <br />PURPOSE: To recognize and celebrate Fair Housing Month. <br />BAGKGROUND: April 2006 marks the 38~h anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act of <br />1968 and the 22"d anniversary of the North Carolina Fair Housing Act, which provide for equal <br />opportunity in the sale, rental, and financing of housing, The Department of Human Rights is <br />charged with investigating housing discrimination complaints and has been investigating <br />complaints under a cooperative agreement with tiUD since 1999. From 1999-2003, the <br />Department resolved six (6) housing discrimination cases. During the 2003-2004 contract year, <br />the Department resolved four (4) cases, and during the 2004-2005 contract year resolved <br />eleven (11) oases, a 175% increase in case resolution. Again in the 2005-2006 contract year, <br />which ends .lone 30, 2006, the Department is witnessing a significant increase in the number of <br />cases resolved. To date, the Department has resolved twelve (12) cases and has five (5) active <br />cases in addition. In the past year, case intake and processing has increased an additional <br />54% due, in large part, to the Department's outreach efforts, <br />The Commission will celebrate Fair Housing Month by conducting the following activities: <br />- The Department of Human Rights and Relations will organize the Second Annual <br />Orange County Housing Fair that will include representatives from all sectors of the <br />community who provide housing or housing related services. The Fair is intended to <br />provide information to Orange County residents nn the myriad of fair and affordable <br />housing services the County provides. Last year's fair was so successfi~l that University <br />Mall decided to completely undervvrite the cost of the Fair this year and combine it with a <br />community day at the mall to increase traffic to the Fair. The Fair is scheduled to take <br />place at University Mall from 11:00 a.m. to 3;00 p.m. on Saturday April 22, 2006. <br />