Show-Me Fair Housing Awareness Project

  

Every Missourian is Lawfully Entitled to Fair Housing.

The Show-Me Fair Housing Awareness Project, an information and outreach campaign sponsored by the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, empowers Missouri citizens by educating the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under state and federal laws. Made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this year-long public awareness effort offers residents of Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard counties homebuyer education and fair housing materials, including guidance on where to turn if they feel housing laws have been violated.

To date, the project has made a significant impact in southeastern Missouri communities, and has been featured in print as well as on television and radio. More than 25,000 residents have received information about their fair housing rights. Partnerships with two dozen local organizations have increased fair housing awareness in many diverse populations in the area, including business leaders, government officials, veterans, persons with disabilities, immigrants, homeless individuals, and more.

Through the Show-Me Fair Housing Awareness Project, fair housing laws were introduced to 500 students, and 12 Bootheel youths were awarded top honors in a poster and journalism contest for their unique expressions of the theme, “Live the Dream: Fair Housing.” Community workshops throughout the region brought together more than 200 attendees—interested citizens, lenders, landlords, and realtors—to learn about discrimination in housing, predatory lending, and best practices for housing professionals. Many others have benefitted as participants in free advanced homebuyer education courses, valued at $100, designed to assess financial readiness for home ownership and to give expert guidance about potential mortgage pitfalls such as exorbitant fees, excessive penalties, and inflated or exploding adjustable interest rates, and much more.

Services are still available! If you are a resident of Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, or Stoddard counties, you are eligible for one-on-one housing counseling. Meet with an expert for a personalized session about ways to acquire affordable rental housing, improve credit scores, obtain a mortgage loan, reduce the rate or amount owed on a mortgage, and prevent foreclosure. For information on free housing counseling services, contact 4-Sight Counseling, Inc. at 573-334-7995 or the Missouri Commission on Human Rights at 573-751-3325 or 877-781-4236 (toll free).

2010  Student Poster and Journalism Contest—Winners Announced!

Twelve Bootheel students were awarded top honors in the Show-Me Fair Housing Awareness Project 2010 Poster and Journalism Contest. These talented youths masterfully expressed the assigned theme, “Live the Dream: Fair Housing,” through their inventive use of images and words.  Let’s applaud these winners:

Poster, Grades 1-3:

First Place: Nicholas Williams (Charleston, MO)

Second Place: Cory Pride II (Sikeston, MO)

Third Place: Malik Quinn (Charleston, MO)

Poster, Grades 4-6:

First Place: Makeisha Taylor (Portageville, MO)

(Not Pictured)
Second Place: Isaiah Williams (Charleston, MO)

Third Place: Cheyenne Randle (Charleston, MO)

Poster, Grades 7-12:

First Place: Tyshay Williams (Charleston, MO)

Second Place: Keisha Walker (Sikeston, MO)

Third Place: Myriah Williams (Charleston, MO)

Essay, Grades 7-12:

First Place: Mikaela Blissett (Oran, MO)

(Not Pictured)
Second Place: Charde’ Bryant (Oran, MO)

(Not Pictured)
Third Place: Johniqua Fort (Oran, MO)

MCHR Announces Bootheel Student Winners of Poster,
Journalism Contests

Resources

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
http://www.hud.gov/

Missouri Consolidated Plan
(See page 161 for 2008-2012 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice)
http://www.missouridevelopment.org/upload/consolidated_plan_book_-_combined_final.pdf