April is Fair Housing Month and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) is excited to join community advocates and housing partners in Vermont to commemorate the 1968 passage of the Fair Housing Act.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating Inclusive Communities and the Importance of Home,” underscores the significance of VHFA’s mission to help develop and sustain access to affordable, safe and decent housing in Vermont. Since its inception, the Agency has helped over 31,000 low- to moderate-income homebuyers purchase homes and has helped make 9,600+ affordable apartments available through financing and development support.
Fair Housing is the right to equal opportunity in housing choice and the right to rent or buy a dwelling free from discrimination. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and family status. Vermont has additional protections based on age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, receipt of public assistance, being a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and denial of development permitting based on the income of prospective residents.
According to Vermont’s Fair Housing Project Director Jess Hyman, the goal of Fair Housing Month is “to raise awareness about the importance of equal access to housing, free from discrimination, and the positive role that inclusive, affordable housing plays in thriving communities.” The Fair Housing Project is run by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO).
Fair Housing Month in Vermont is jam packed with informative events that are free and open to the public. These programs are aimed at boosting fair housing awareness and empowering Vermonters through shared dialogue and stories. Highlighted community events include:
- Fair Housing Awareness Day at the Vermont Statehouse – April 1
- Keynote Kickoff featuring Cashuana Hill from the Redress Movement – April 3
- Fair Housing Fridays (an educational series) hosted by CVOEO each Friday in April
- and much more!
A full list of programs and event details is online at www.fairhousingmonthvt.org. Related housing information and other fair housing event announcements and reminders will be included on the VHFA website and social media (Facebook and LinkedIn).
CVOEO coordinates Fair Housing Month activities with partners and sponsors including VHFA, Vermont Dept. of Housing and Community Development, Vermont Humanities, Vermont Human Rights Commission, Housing and Homelessness Alliance in Vermont, and many others. For a full list, visit https://fairhousingmonthvt.org/.