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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Wanda Seeney (573) 751-3247
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20, 2010
MCHR Commemorates National Fair Housing Month
Missouri Commission on Human Rights Hosts Fair Housing Symposium to Educate Missourians
Columbia, Mo - The Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) will partner with the City of Columbia Human Rights Commission, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the University of Missouri Law School to observe Fair Housing Month and to educate Missourians about discrimination in the rental and sale of housing, mortgage lending, real estate transactions, predatory lending, and affordable housing. The Fair Housing Symposium will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 22, in Columbia at the Sanford-Kimpton Building, located at 1005 W. Worley St. There is no cost and the public is invited to attend.
“During these difficult economic times, Missourians need as much information as possible to protect themselves from discriminatory housing practices,” says Dr. Alisa Warren, Executive Director of the MCHR. “Housing choice determines access to quality schools, jobs, healthcare, recreation, and public services. Falling prey to discrimination takes that choice away.”
The Symposium will include speakers from the following agencies:
Cheryl Davidson, Investigator and Civil Rights Analyst, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Rigel Oliveri, Law Professor, University of Missouri Law School
Dr. Alisa Warren, Executive Director, MCHR
Cyrus Dashtaki, Former Assistant Attorney General
Tom Lata, Community Development Coordinator, City of Columbia
Carol Harl, Local Realtor
Valerie Shaw, Executive Vice President, Regional Retail Administration Director, Commerce Bank
“Missourians are losing their homes and investments because they were mislead about the property they bought, pressured to accept higher-risk loans, charged high-interest rates based on their race rather than their credit, or were deceived about the loan terms at the end of closing,” says Warren.
Enforcement is not enough; consumer education is the key to fighting housing discrimination. Here are some helpful protection tips from HUD:
- Interview several real estate agents and ask for their references before you choose one
- Check out the prices of other homes in the neighborhood
- Hire a licensed home inspector to carefully review the home or apartment
- Shop for a lender and compare costs
- Do not let anyone persuade you to make false information on a loan application
- Do not let anyone persuade you to borrow more money than you can afford to repay
- Never sign a blank document or a document containing blanks
- Read everything and do not sign anything you do not understand
- Have your attorney or a HUD-approved housing counseling agency review your contract and loan
To reserve your space, contact Marie Glaze at 573-874-7488 or maglaze@goColumbiaMO.com. For more information about housing discrimination in Missouri or to file a complaint, visit the MCHR web site at http://www.labor.mo.gov/mohumanrights/Discrimination/housing.asp or call 573-751-3325.
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