April Designated as National Fair Housing Month
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Texas Workforce Commissions (TWC) Civil Rights Division which enforces fair housing laws will present at two Austin-area conferences this month in honor of National Fair Housing Month to remind Texans that the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Texas Fair Housing Act ensure that all individuals have equal access to housing. These acts prohibit discrimination in housing based on disability race color religion national origin sex and familial status. TWCs Civil Rights Division resolved more than 370 cases involving allegations of housing discrimination in Fiscal Year 2012.
Representatives from TWCs Civil Rights Division will present at the Austin Tenants Council Fair Housing Conference on April 11 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Austin located at
1617 IH-35 North in Austin. The conference is free and open to anyone with an interest in fair housing issues and discriminatory concerns. For more information on the conference visit
www.housing-rights.org/agenda.html. A total of 5.5 Continuing Learning Education (CLE) hours will be available to social workers and lawyers who attend.
TWCs Civil Rights Division also will co-host the Creating Equal Opportunities in Our Community" conference with the City of Austin Equal Employment and Fair Housing Office on April 23 2013 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center located at 600 River St. in Austin. The conference will highlight the latest developments and trends in fair housing discrimination. Conference participants may receive up to four CLE hours for attending. More information is available online at
www.austintexas.gov/news/city-hosts-annual-fair-housing-conference-april-23.
Complaints filed by prospective renters or home buyers can include being denied the chance to rent or purchase housing or being told housing is unavailable when it is on the market. Other discriminatory practices include being shown apartments or homes only in certain neighborhoods or being refused information about mortgage loans. Additionally housing providers and homeowners associations must allow occupants with disabilities to make reasonable structural modifications to residences that would enable full accessibility of the premises.
To file any complaint with TWCs Civil Rights Division you may:
- file a complaint in person at the CRD office 1117 Trinity St. Room 144-T in Austin Texas;
- call the CRD office toll free at 888-452-4778 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT weekdays; or
- write to Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division 101 E. 15 St. Room 144-T Austin Texas 78778-0001.
