Fair Housing Update: January 2005

Washington State
FAIR HOUSING UPDATE

Volume 10, Issue 1

January 2005

Browse other issues | Upcoming Events | About This Publication

Articles in this issue:

Seattle Amends Law to Strengthen Fair Housing Protection
This article outlines the recent changes in Seattle's Unfair Housing Practices ordinance.

New Advanced Fair Housing Seminar Available
The Fair Housing Agencies of Washington State offer a new free quarterly fair housing seminar.

Training Focuses on Fair Housing and Mortgage Lending
SOCR sponsored a training workshop on November 30, 2004, focussing on mortgage lending.

Questions & Answers Column

Mark and Kim Wilson and their son and daughter are interested in renting an apartment with two large bedrooms. Property manager Chiles tells them they can only rent a three bedroom unit, because their children must have separate bedrooms. Is this discriminatory?

Owner Jay Barnes checks on the rental history for all prospective tenants. He discovers that applicant Maurice Jefferson has a history of disturbing neighbors and owns two inoperable vehicles that he wants to store at the complex. Barnes decides not to rent to Jefferson. Does this violate fair housing laws?

The written rules for the Gray Tower Apts state "children are not to leave toys on the stairs and may not run in the hallways" and "children are not allowed to play in the courtyard after 7:00 pm." Does this violate fair housing laws?

The West Sound Apts have a smoke-free rule. A tenant complains that the neighbors below him smoke on their balcony and that the smoke enters his apartment. When manager Carl tells the neighbors that they must honor the no-smoking rule, they accuse him of discrimination. Are they right?

Jack has people of various races on his maintenance staff. A resident in the complex who requested some repair work has asked Jack not to send a black employee to do repairs. What should Jack do?

Tenant Beckwith tells the manager that another tenant has been calling his family racially derogatory names. The manager tells Beckwith to handle it themselves because it is a private dispute. Did the manager do the right thing?

Receive this publication via e-mail -- Fax the following information to 253-591-5050:
Name, Address, E-mail address, Phone number, Property

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

The Washington State Fair Housing Update is a quarterly publication of Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) Agencies and non-profit fair housing organizations. For more information, contact us:

U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development
206-220-5170 / 1-800-877-0246 / TTY 206-220-5185 / Website: www.hud.gov/offices/fheo

Washington State Human Rights Commission
360-753-6770 / 1-800-233-3247 / TTY 1-800-300-7525 / Website: www.hum.wa.gov

King County Office of Civil Rights
206-296-7592 / TTY 206-296-7596 / Website: www.metrokc.gov/dias/ocre

Seattle Office for Civil Rights
206-684-4500 / TTY 206-684-4503 / Website: www.cityofseattle.net/civilrights

Tacoma Human Rights & Human Services Department
253-591-5151 / TTY 253-591-5153 / Website: www.cityoftacoma.org/HRHS

Fair Housing Center of South Puget Sound
253-274-9523 / 1-888-766-8800 / TTY 253-274-9523

Northwest Fair Housing Alliance (Spokane)
509-325-2665 / 1-800-200-FAIR (3247)

Upcoming Events | KCOCR Fair Housing Home Page
Contact OCR | Your comments about this Web site

Updated: Feb. 7, 2005