The Smith-Williams Service Center will be hosting the annual “National Fair Housing Month” workshop April 17.
The goal for the workshop is to provide information to homebuyers, renters, housing providers, realtors, attorneys and others involved in the housing market about fair housing and lending practices.
Angela Hendrieth, manager of equity and workforce development for the City of Tallahassee from Tallahassee, Fla., said the workshop will provide the community with essential information.
“It’s a month that is dedicated to educating citizens about their rights relating to their housing, and that you cannot be denied housing based on your race, religion, origin or any type of disability,” Hendrieth said.
Hendrieth said the National Fair Housing workshop is annual, and is always scheduled in April. She also said those who plan on attending can expect to gain knowledge on their rights regarding home foreclosure.
“Those attending should expect to get information about their rights as it relates to their housing and responsibilities,” Hendrieth said. “We will have a segment of the program for those individuals who may be going through foreclosure.”
According to RealtyTrac, total home foreclosure filings for 2013, including notices of default, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, were reported on 1.36 million properties. That is down 26 percent from 2012.
One in every 407 housing units is foreclosed in the State of Florida.
Dazzree Thomas, an equal employment opportunity analyst from Perry, Fla. said her role in the workshop is to assist in coordinating the community event.
Thomas said the National Fair Housing workshop is important because many people don’t know their rights when it comes down to home foreclosure.
“It’s important because a lot of people in our community and nation-wide are discriminated against when it comes to housing whether they’re buying or renting,” Thomas said.
Thomas stated it’s time for the community to be educated on foreclosure.
“It’s a time educate the community, and to highlight people with disabilities who are often discriminated against because the more you know the more likely you are to avoid being discriminated against,” Thomas said.
According to Thomas, the number of supporters has been increasing over the years.
“It has been increasing and part of that is because a lot of people have gone through or faced foreclosure, so the number of attendees has increased because of that,” Thomas said.
Tremaine Hughes, equity and workforce development specialist for the City of Tallahassee, said it is important to inform individuals about foreclosure so they can know their rights in regards to home foreclosure.
“It’s important to transfer information and let people know what their rights are,” Hughes said. “It gives people an opportunity to be informed about what they can and cannot do an to hold people accountable.”
Adrian Clarke, a junior computer science major, from Miami, said that he would attend the National Fair Housing workshop and looks forward to the experience.
“I will be at the workshop because it will benefit me by letting me know my rights about housing foreclosure,” Clarke said. “As a future homeowner, I think that information in regards to home foreclosure is necessary more me to have knowledge on since it is a problem in Florida.”
The National Fair Housing workshop is scheduled to take place Thursday, April 17th at the Smith-Williams Service Center located on 2295 Pasco St.