[Archived] City of Alexandria Celebrates Fair Housing Month in April

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2018

In recognition of Fair Housing Month this April, the City of Alexandria is sponsoring activities to promote the awareness and understanding of fair housing. April was declared National Fair Housing Month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to recognize the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and to remember the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred a week before the Act was signed. The Act stands as the final great legislative achievement of the 1960s civil rights era.

Fair Housing Month is celebrated as an opportunity for recommitment to the goal of eliminating housing discrimination and the creation of equal opportunity in every community. Under federal, state and local laws and regulations, all residents have equal access to housing regardless of sex, race, color, religion, age, familial status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or national origin. To identify problems and promote compliance with fair housing laws, the City conducts fair housing testing to determine the presence of discrimination in mortgage lending and in rental and sales housing markets in Alexandria.

To celebrate Fair Housing Month, the City is hosting the Third Annual Fair Housing Poster Contest. All Alexandria students in grades 1-8 are eligible to enter the contest. Entries must be original artwork and represent this year's theme, "Alexandria is ONE Diverse Community.” The submission deadline is Monday, April 10, at 5 p.m.

In addition to the poster contest, the Office of Housing staff is available to talk with educators or program directors and their classes about the Fair Housing Act and housing discrimination.

For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Housing or call 703.746.3079.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Gwen Lassiter at gwen.lassiter@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4990, Virginia Relay 711.