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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 21, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-b <br /> SUBJECT: Fair Housing Month Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Annette Moore, Human Rights and <br /> Fair Housing Month Proclamation Relations, 919-245-2317 <br /> Fair Housing Advertisement <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating April 2020 as Fair Housing Month in <br /> Orange County, North Carolina. <br /> BACKGROUND: The month of April is National Fair Housing Month. April 2020 will mark the <br /> 52nd anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the 26t" <br /> anniversary of the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance. These laws grant every person a right <br /> to live where they choose, free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, <br /> sex, religion, familial status, or disability. The Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, <br /> established in 1987, adds additional protections from discrimination based on age and veteran <br /> status. <br /> The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") has chosen "Call HUD: <br /> Because Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal" as the 2020 Fair Housing Month theme. The <br /> chosen theme expresses the ideal of fair and equal housing opportunities in every community. <br /> To bring awareness to those protected by the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, the <br /> Department of Human Rights and Relations has chosen a different theme than HUD this year, <br /> "Closing the Door on Housing Discrimination." <br /> Due to the current pandemic, the Human Rights and Relations Department has opted to provide <br /> an expansive advertisement campaign to educate the public during Fair Housing Month in lieu <br /> of in-person training and events. Many advertisements for this month and beyond will focus on <br /> Fair Housing issues that may arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly based on race, <br /> national origin, disability and age. <br /> As part of Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), HUD has provided grant recipients <br /> Partnership Grants. The Human Rights and Relations Department has been allocated a <br /> $10,000 HUD Partnership Grant to aid the Department by using these funds to engage in <br /> activities targeted to lead to increase FHAP conduct enforcement of fair housing rights under <br /> state and local laws. One of the specific targeted activities was to partner with community based <br />