Title
Discussion of fair housing outreach and education activities the City could take on with CDBG funds - Diane McGinnis-Casey
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"Impediment 8: Need for Coordinated Fair Housing Education and Enforcement - A need for ongoing outreach, education, and enforcement regarding fair housing is evident from public input and the results of the fair housing survey. Meeting, focus group, and interview participants, when asked to name organizations that provide fair housing education or that could be turned to for help with a housing discrimination complaint, struggled at times to think of appropriate service providers. Survey data revealed that nearly half of respondents (47.4%) report not knowing where to file a complaint of housing discrimination. Even so, respondents’ self-reported knowledge of their fair housing rights was relatively high, with 42% knowing and another 38% “somewhat” knowing their rights under the law. In addition to a need for general public education about fair housing rights and complaint filings, stakeholder input suggests a need for training and education focused on overcoming racism. Meeting participants cited several examples of prejudicial attitudes among people in positions of local leadership as well as among some members of the public at large. A broad-based and respected local convening organization could consider a periodic anti-racism training aimed at government, school, housing authority, and corporate leaders across the community. Participation would be voluntary, but by attracting high-level officials, the trainings would take on a reputation of esteem in the community. The City of La Crosse has a Human Rights Commission that could be instrumental in this work, but the commission’s membership has been subject to some turnover over the past year and the commission has just begun to clarify its role in fair housing through a strategic planning effort."