Multi-Family Housing Access Forum Educates Builders About Fair Housing, Accessibility

The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division recently launched a new program called the Multi-Family Housing Access Forum. The Forum was created to help builders, developers, architects, contractors, and other housing professionals better understand their legal obligations under the Fair Housing Act's accessibility requirements for multifamily housing and to develop cooperative approaches to promoting compliance.

The Forum was designed to help builders avoid costly lawsuits for failing to comply with Fair Housing Act guidelines. Another goal is to encourage builders to voluntarily comply at the planning stages to save money and ensure that the housing needs of those with disabilities are met. According to statistics provided by the federal government, more than 50 million Americans, or 18% of the population, live with some form of disability and this group accounts for more than $175 billion in discretionary spending. As the population ages and the boomer generation retires, the need for accessibility will only grow.

If you've already signed up for Building for Boomers & Beyond, you may want to attend the first Forum event from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA. Titled "Accessibility Design Success Stories," the session will highlight builders who successfully used these features in homes they built. The Forum will bring together builders, people with disabilities, and federal officials.

For more details on the Multi-Family Housing Access Forum, e-mail Nicole Porter or call 202-514-4713. [ return to top ]