ANNE ARUNDEL County Council PASSES Fair Housing Law by 4-3 VOTE!!     HPRP is happy to announce the Anne Arundel County Council's HISTORIC vote last night PASSING the first countywide Fair Housing Law! The legislation prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, citizenship, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, occupation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and source of income! This bill passage will ensure equal housing opportunities for all County residents and marks a significant step forward toward the County's efforts to end homelessness. PLEASE JOIN US in THANKING the County Executive and the Councilmembers who voted in support of this historic legislation: County Executive Steuart Pittman countyexecutive@aacounty.org Councilmember Sarah Lacey (Bill Sponsor) slacey@aacounty.org Council Chair Andrew Pruski andrew.pruski@aacounty.org Council Vice Chair Allison Pickard allison.pickard@aacounty.org Councilmember Lisa D. B. Rodvien lisa.rodvien@aacounty.org Also, HUGE THANKS to the many many residents of Anne Arundel County who testified in support of this bill and a fairer Anne Arundel County. The following organizations also supported this effort: ACLU of Maryland ADAPT Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) Arundel Community Development Services NAACP Homeless Persons Representation Project Disability Rights Maryland ****************************************************** A copy of the legislation is available here

Beyond the Boundaries to hold Kick Off Event on October 12th

The Baltimore metro-based Beyond the Boundaries has announced that it is back! After taking off a brief time to evaluate its work and focus, they are now ready to begin the great work. Its mission is to promote "social equity through raising awareness of Systemic Racial Injustice and facilitating advocacy for Affordable Housing."

The organization is hosting a celebratory kick-off event to highlight the history of Beyond the Boundaries, receive feedback from past participants and new supporters, and work collaboratively to plan the future of Beyond the Boundaries.

Date And Time

Sat, October 12, 2019

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

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Location

St Francis of Assisi Church

3615 Harford Road

Baltimore, MD 21218

View Map

Click here for More Information and to Register 

About Beyond the Boundaries

Beyond the Boundaries embraces Catholic Social Teaching by promoting social equity through raising awareness of Systemic Racial Injustice and facilitating advocacy for Affordable Housing.  The Program began in 1996 when Bishop John Ricard was asked to form the InterVicariate Task Force on Regional Issues for the express purpose of reflecting on the issues raised by Baltimore Unbound: A Strategy for Regional Renewal by David Rusk.  Focusing on social equity, in this context, seeks to provide a just opportunity for all, primarily through economic, ethnic, racial and social desegregation. Beyond the Boundaries considers issues affecting the Baltimore metropolitan region that include Baltimore City and the Counties of Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Harford and Carroll as well as the parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It also assists other participating groups to collaboratively develop and promote policy solutions that can achieve racial justice and social equity within the region.

Copyright © 2019 Beyond the Boundariesbtb.org, All rights reserved. 

Contact Event Organizer

Released by the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs on August 7, 2019 August 2019

Mayor Young Issues Executive Order to Support Immigrants On Wednesday, August 7, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young was joined by community advocates as he announced a new Executive Order titled, “Advancing Public Safety and Access to City Services.” This Executive Order served to expand citywide antidiscrimination policies, stating that “No City Department, agency, officer or employee shall act with bias against any individual based on actual or perceived . . . citizenship or immigration status.” Additionally, no City official should ask about citizenship or immigration status unless required to do so by state or federal law. During the press conference, Mayor Young also reaffirmed his commitment to keeping families together by continuing to provide legal representation to community members facing deportation hearings through the Safe City Baltimore initiative. “Immigrants who call Baltimore home should not live in fear of family separation for the simple fact that they cannot afford an attorney.” This Executive Order and Safe City Baltimore are critical to ensure that Baltimore City remains a Welcoming City to all. The Executive Order also builds upon the recent Baltimore City Police policy that prohibits officers from cooperating with ICE on civil immigration matters. Mayor Young continues to demonstrate leadership on issues facing immigrants and commitment to welcoming policies and practices. Thanks, Mayor Young!

Register for the Last GHHI Webinar on the New Maryland Lead Law Tune in today, August 29th for our final webinar on the new Maryland Lead Law. Register below.  Register Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, 2714 Hudson Street, Baltimore, MD 21224

Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights & Wage Enforcement

CIVIL RIGHTS WEEK

September 27, 2019 - October 5, 2019

The Office of Civil Rights & Wage Enforcement will host the 2019 Civil Rights Week. The theme of the week is "B.I.A.S: Bringing Inherent Assumptions to Surface." The week of events will bring individuals of various backgrounds together to address, educate, and inform individuals on issues surrounding Civil Rights locally and nationally. Our hope is to spark continuous conversations on equity, build partnerships, and create advocates for social justice within the city and greater Baltimore region. 

For more information and to register for events:
https://civilrightsweek2019.splashthat.com

Check out our radio announcement for civil rights week!

Events

CIVIL RIGHTS BREAKFAST*** with the Reverend Jesse Jackson

9/27/19, 9:30-12:00pm @ War Memorial Building

A long standing tradition in its 28th year

COMMUNITY DAY

9/28/19, 11a-4p @ Patterson Park

Community Day with the Baltimore Police Department

CIVIL RIGHTS & THE CHURCH

9/29/19, 9:45a-12p @ TBD

Celebration of Baltimore Churches and Civil Rights

BIAS IN HEALTHCARE

9/30/19, 6-8p @ MedStar Harbor Hospital

Discussion on the impact of bias towards minorities

POLICING & ENGAGING

10/1/19, 6-8p @ University of Baltimore

Discussion on policing in vulnerable communities

CENSUS 2020: ELIMINATING BIAS

10/2/19, 12- 2p @ City Hall Curran Room

Discussion on impact of Census 2020

PARDON OUR INTERRUPTION

10/2/19, 5-8p @ Next Phaze Cafe

Civil Rights networking event for young professionals

ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUITY TOWN HALL

10/4/19, 9a-12p @ Montgomery Park Business Center

Historical aspects of environmental inequity

CIVIL RIGHTS SKATE & BOWL NIGHT

10/4/19, 6-8p @ Shake n Bake Family Fun Center

A fun-filled activity for members of the community

CIVIL RIGHTS GALA*** with Roland Martin

10/5/19, 7-11p @ Baltimore Convention Center

Culminating event recognizing individuals for their achievement's and support of Civil Rights

*** The Breakfast/Gala tickets are not free, please click on the link below or go to https://baltimorecityfdn.ejoinme.org/sponsorship-MOCR to purchase tickets. The Civil Rights Breakfast and the Civil Rights Gala tickets are sold jointly at $55 per person. The purchase of a ticket includes access to both events. Please fill out the form entirely and please put the names of your guests in the Comments & Other instructions section. | For 1 ticket, select $55. For multiple tickets, please put in the total cost of your tickets @ $55 each. For ex. for 2 tickets, please enter $110 with the names of your guests in the comments section. For a table of 10, please select $550 and enter the names of each guest.IF YOU WILL ONLY BE ATTENDING ONE OF THE TWO EVENTS, PLEASE EMAIL CIVILRIGHTS@BALTIMORECITY.GOV TO LET US KNOW.

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  The Community Relations Commission holds their monthly meeting.
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  Dr. Lawrence Brown discusses the history of housing discrimination at the “Can We Talk?” event.
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  Program Compliance Officer Larry Ennels discusses wage classifications with contractors and employees.

FAIR HOUSING E-NEWS July-August, 2019 - Vol. 14, No. 4 Welcome to this edition of Fair Housing E-News! This newsletter is produced by the GBCHRB as a public service. More info/resources: http://www.gbchrb.org. Just a few of the headlines are: Advocates Condemn HUD's New Effort to Weaken Critical Anti-Discrimination Provisions of the Fair Housing Act.  Read the August 1, 2019 PRRAC press release. US GAO Report Shows Harm to Consumers from HUD Loan Auctions to Private Equity Firms. The report. Read the August 2, 2019 NCLC press release. HUD and Los Angeles Reach Historic Settlement Resolving Disability Discrimination and Lack of Accessible Housing. Read the agreement. Read more about the agreement. Read the August 2, 2019 HUD press release. Advocates Urge Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to Enforce the Payday Lending Rule Payment Protections. Read the August 12, 2019 letter. The Maryland Insurance Administration has released a Short Video with Important Information about Flood Insurance. https://www.facebook.com/MDInsuranceAdmin/videos/3100788203295592. The MIA website HUD Settles Claim of Discrimination Against Edgewater, New Jersey Apartment Owner for Denying a Person with Disabilities an Assistance Animal. Read the Order. Read the July 29, 2019 HUD press release. ***** To read this issue of Fair Housing E-News: fhnews19julaug.pdf. GBCHRB P. O. Box 66180 Baltimore, Maryland 21239-6180 http://www.gbchrb.org 410.929.7640

HUD Press Release Aug 23, 2019, 3:15 PM 

HUD Settles with Virginia Rental Company for Housing Discrimination in Los Angeles Area

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced  it has approved a Conciliation Agreement between Housing Rights Center (HRC), a fair housing advocacy organization in Los Angeles, and Arlington, VA-based AvalonBay Communities, Inc., resolving allegations that the real estate investment trust employed rental practices that discriminated against applicants based on their race. Read the agreement.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against applicants for housing because of their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability, including by providing different and false information about terms, conditions and availability of rental properties.

“Denying a rental application because of someone’s race not only robs them of a place to call home, it is also unlawful,” said Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Hopefully today’s settlement will convince other housing providers of the importance of meeting their obligation to comply with the nation’s fair housing laws.”

The case came to HUD’s attention when HRC filed a complaint alleging that AvalonBay, which operates numerous properties in the Los Angeles area, repeatedly provided more information about available units to white HRC fair housing testers who posed as prospective tenants than to black HRC testers.  AvalonBay denies the allegations of racial discrimination but agreed to conciliate the case.

Under the Conciliation Agreement, AvalonBay will pay Housing Rights Center $20,000. In addition, its management and leasing staff who work with tenants at the subject property will attend fair housing training. AvalonBay also agreed to comply with all provisions of the Fair Housing Act in the future.

Persons who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).