Email Newsletter
 |
In This Edition: |
Spotlight On: HRI's Lawyer Referral Service
It is the goal of the Housing Rights Lawyer Referral Service (#120) to provide free and low cost legal services to low and lower income households who would not otherwise have access to quality legal representation, taking into consideration the economic needs of the client, so that no one is denied services due to inability to pay.
We were certified by the California State Bar in August of 2004. We now have 19 attorneys signed up! The types of cases they accept include substandard living conditions, predatory lending, real estate fraud, personal injury and housing discrimination.
To date four cases have been successfully settled. We have processed over 50 potential referrals.
Low and lower income individuals who are having housing problems and think they might need a lawyer should call us at: 1800-261-2298.
Attorneys who would like to join our Service should call 1510-548-8776 and speak to Arlene Bradley.
In addition to matching low and lower income individuals and households with skilled and expert attorneys we also provide a notary public service in our Berkeley office (call 1510-548-8776 for an appointment).
We also sponsor training for attorneys. On April 28th, 2006 Michelle Magar of Magar and Milstein will conduct a workshop called: Disability Rights, Reasonable Accommodation and the Practice of Law. Three MCLE credits will e awarded. Call us for more information.
April Is Fair Housing Month
The Fair Housing Act was signed on April 11, 1968, just one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This landmark bill, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, resulted from the hard work and leadership of Dr. King and others in the civil rights movement and was an important step toward confronting discrimination against minorities in housing. Throughout the early 1960’s civil rights activists around the country petitioned Congress for a comprehensive fair housing law. However, it wasn’t until 1966, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led marches throughout the City of Chicago, that fair and open housing became a national topic.
The enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act came only after a long and difficult journey. From 1966-1967, Congress regularly considered the fair housing bill, but failed to garner a strong enough majority for its passage. However, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, President Lyndon Johnson responded, in part, to this national tragedy by urging the bill's speedy Congressional approval. Since the 1966 open housing marches in Chicago, Dr. King's name had been closely associated with the fair housing legislation.
While Dr. King was a leader in the struggle for open housing, his acts alone would not have changed America. It was thousands of people across the US who participated in marches, sit-ins and other numerous protests that swayed opinions and ultimately changed this country. (to read the rest of this article click on this link: http://housingrights.org/aprilisfairhousingmonth.htm.
Going For The Gold: Building On Faith
Discrimination in housing was the law of the land until fairly recently (1963). With a legacy of over 200 years of institutionalized discrimination, we can expect it to take at least until our 50th anniversary to reverse the damage caused by housing discrimination.
So, we’re going for the gold. In planning to be around another 24 years we cannot think of anything more important than to recognize the contribution of other organizations working, as we are, for adequate housing for everyone.
Housing Rights, Inc. will be recognizing at our annual reception on September 28th, 2006 (changed from April 27th) Six partnerships, representing six different successful models of collaboration that have resulted in solutions to our affordable housing shortage.
To learn more about this event and the six partnerships click on this link: http://housingrights.org/goingforthegold.htm
Stomping Out Discrimination
Join us in “stomping” out discrimination
until difference no longer makes a difference
in a world where every child is smiling….
- Free from hunger
- Free from harm
- Free from homelessness
- Free from hate
Housing Rights, Inc. was founded in 1979 by a law student who could not find housing because she had young children. We are committed to seeing that that does not happened to others. Join us in fighting to uphold the ‘housing rights’ of everyone.
Our Goals with your help, are to eliminate discrimination in housing, prevent evictions/foreclosures and encourage diversity in our communities. We do this by assisting tenants and landlord, homeowners and housing providers to understand their rights and responsibilities and resolve problems, so that EVERYONE will have a real opportunity to live in decent, affordable housing wherever it may be located.
Your support will make it possible to keep our housing rights counseling services free to all who call...renters, homeowners, landlords and others for ANOTHER 25 YEARS!
Donations of time money and goods are welcome. If you want to combine your passion for recycling with supporting Housing Rights, Inc. bring us your used printer cartridges! HRI is recycling cartridges. (We receive a fee for each cartridge!
We are also collecting BART cards. BART will pay is the leftover amount on the cards. Each .05 or .10 adds up!
Visit our website to learn more about how to donate to Housing Rights, Inc.: http://housingrights.org/donatemoney.htm
Announcements
Housing Rights, Inc. now provide notary public services at our Berkeley office. Call for an appointment 510-548-8776
Date Change/Save the date: Our annual reception date has been changed from April 27 to September 28th. Going for the Gold: Building on Faith will be held at the Rotunda in Downtown Oakland. Look for the details on our website and in the mail.
Three hour MCLE credit training for attorneys to be held April 28th. Disability Rights, Reasonable Accommodation and the Practice of Law - presenter is Michelle Magar of Magar and Milstein. Call 510-548-8776 for more information.
For a list of HRI events for the month of April, click here.
| MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to fight for equal access to housing for everyone
by eliminating barriers to housing choice such as discrimination,
sub-standard housing, ignorance, apathy and malice in order to
eradicate illegal housing discrimination, prevent evictions/foreclosures
and encourage diversity in our neighborhoods. |
