| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing April 2009 as "Fair Housing |
| 3 | Month." |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits |
| 6 | discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing |
| 7 | based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, |
| 8 | or familial status, and |
| 9 | WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature enacted the Florida Fair |
| 10 | Housing Act in 1983 to ensure that the state makes every effort |
| 11 | to provide fair housing opportunities to all persons and to |
| 12 | prohibit discrimination in the sale or rental of housing due to |
| 13 | race, color, national origin, gender, or religion, and |
| 14 | WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature subsequently amended the |
| 15 | Florida Fair Housing Act to expand the prohibition on |
| 16 | discrimination to include familial status and persons with |
| 17 | disabilities, and |
| 18 | WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of |
| 19 | Housing and Urban Development, one out of every four or five |
| 20 | Hispanic, African-American, Asian, or Native American persons |
| 21 | still faces discrimination when attempting to rent, purchase, or |
| 22 | finance housing, and |
| 23 | WHEREAS, low-income and disabled persons and the elderly |
| 24 | who attempt to purchase, refinance, or secure a reverse mortgage |
| 25 | are targets for predatory lending and fraudulent loan practices, |
| 26 | and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, the Secretary of the United States Department of |
| 28 | Housing and Urban Development has proclaimed April 2009 as |
| 29 | "National Fair Housing Month" and, further, has asked |
| 30 | communities to remember the past and celebrate 41 years of |
| 31 | housing successes and march towards the future to ensure justice |
| 32 | and housing opportunities for all, and |
| 33 | WHEREAS, Florida has one of the highest foreclosure rates |
| 34 | in the country, resulting in an alarming number of residents |
| 35 | losing their homes and being forced to find alternative housing, |
| 36 | and |
| 37 | WHEREAS, investigations conducted by the Florida Commission |
| 38 | on Human Relations found that, in 2007-2008, housing |
| 39 | discrimination on the basis of disability, race, familial |
| 40 | status, and national origin continued to occur in Florida, and |
| 41 | WHEREAS, the Florida Commission on Human Relations |
| 42 | continues to expand its efforts to reach out to and educate |
| 43 | members of the housing industry on fair housing laws and on |
| 44 | industry responsibilities in providing fair housing |
| 45 | opportunities, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 46 |
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| 47 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 48 | Florida: |
| 49 |
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| 50 | That April 2009 is recognized as "Fair Housing Month" in |
| 51 | the State of Florida, and the Florida House of Representatives |
| 52 | calls upon state and local government leaders, communities |
| 53 | within the state, and all Floridians to observe Fair Housing |
| 54 | Month through activities and ceremonies that celebrate |
| 55 | historical and future efforts to ensure fair and equal access to |
| 56 | housing for all people in this state. |