May 2010

Commission on Human Rights Fair Housing Symposium Educates Missourians

MCHR Director of Investigative Operations, Eric Krekel (standing),

discusses recent developments in the Fair Housing Law.

To recognize National Fair Housing Month, which was kicked off in April, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights partnered with the City of Jefferson Human Rights Commission, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Jefferson City NAACP, and the Human Rights Taskforce of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare to educate Missourians about discrimination in the rental and sale of housing, mortgage lending, real estate transactions, predatory lending, and affordable housing. The Fair Housing Symposium was held on Thursday, April 29, in Jefferson City at City Hall in the City Council Chambers. There was no cost for the public to attend.

“During these difficult economic times, Missourians need as much information as possible to protect themselves from discriminatory housing practices,” says Dr. Alisa Warren, Executive Director of the MCHR. “Housing choice determines access to quality schools, jobs, healthcare, recreation, and public services. Falling prey to discrimination takes that choice away.”

The Symposium included speakers from the following agencies:

• Nimrod Chapel, Sr., First Vice President, Jefferson City NAACP
• Eric Krekel, Director of Investigative Operations, MCHR
• Cyrus Dashtaki, Former Assistant Attorney General
• Melva Fast, Assistant to the City Administrator, City of Jefferson
• Anthony May, Acting Program Center Director for the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Lara McClure, Independent Living Resource Center
  

“Missourians are losing their homes and investments because they were misled about the property they bought, pressured to accept higher-risk loans, charged high-interest rates based on their race rather than their credit, or were deceived about the loan terms at the end of closing,” says Warren. “Enforcement is not enough; consumer education is the key to fighting housing discrimination.”

During the previous week, a similar symposium was held in Columbia at the Sanford-Kimpton Building on Worley Street. The mayors of Columbia and Jefferson City presented the MCHR with a proclamation recognizing Fair Housing Month in Missouri.

To guard yourself against housing discrimination, the HUD offers the following protection tips:

1. Interview several real estate agents and ask for their references before you choose one
2. Check out the prices of other homes in the neighborhood
3. Hire a licensed home inspector to carefully review the home or apartment
4. Shop for a lender and compare costs
5. Do not let anyone persuade you to make false information on a loan application
6. Do not let anyone persuade you to borrow more money than you can afford to repay
7. Never sign a blank document or a document containing blanks
8. Read everything and do not sign anything you do not understand
9. Have your attorney or a HUD-approved housing counseling agency review your contract and loan

For more information about housing discrimination in Missouri or to file a complaint, visit the MCHR web site at http://www.labor.mo.gov/mohumanrights/Discrimination/housing.asp or call 573-751-3325.