Florida Senate - 2009                             (NP)    SR 944
       
       
       
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       40-01303-09                                            2009944__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing April 2009 as “Fair Housing
    3         Month.”
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits
    6  discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing
    7  based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin,
    8  disability, 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 to ensure justice and housing
   32  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, thorough and timely investigations conducted by
   38  the Florida Commission on Human Relations found that, in 2007
   39  2008, housing discrimination on the basis of disability, race,
   40  familial status, and national origin continued to occur in
   41  Florida, and
   42         WHEREAS, the Florida Commission on Human Relations
   43  continues to expand its efforts to reach out to and educate
   44  members of the housing industry on fair housing laws and on
   45  industry responsibilities in providing fair housing
   46  opportunities, NOW, THEREFORE,
   47         
   48  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   49         
   50         That April 2009 is recognized as “Fair Housing Month” in
   51  the State of Florida, and the Florida Senate calls upon state
   52  and local government leaders, communities within the state, and
   53  all of the people of Florida to observe Fair Housing Month
   54  through activities and ceremonies that celebrate historical and
   55  future efforts to ensure fair and equal access to housing for
   56  all people in this state.