As social distancing becomes the new normal, the Fair Housing Project of CVOEO has replaced all in-person April Fair Housing Month events with online and home-based activities.
Each April we celebrate the 1968 passage of the Fair Housing Act with a series of public education and art events to raise awareness about housing discrimination in Vermont and the positive role that inclusive, affordable housing plays in thriving communities. This year, due to COVID-19, we have switched gears to focus on online info sessions and fun, creative ways that people of all ages can celebrate Fair Housing Month from home or online.
JOIN US for these informative and fun events:
FAIR HOUSING FRIDAYS: A series of informational, interactive video sessions on Fair Housing issues in the context of COVID-19. The Zoom webinars will be held from 12:30-1:30 pm, with recordings available for later viewing. Hear from local experts, with plenty of time for Q&A. To sign up, register online at www.fairhousingmonthvt.org/fair-housing/fridays.
- April 10: “State and Federal Housing Policy: What’s happening and how it affects you” with Erhard Mahnke of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition and Chris Donnelly of Champlain Housing Trust
- April 17: “Tenants’ Rights and Renting during COVID-19” with Erika Johnson of Vermont Legal Aid and Karin Ames of Vermont Tenants
- April 24: “Fair Housing during (and in the wake of) COVID-19” with Melissa Horwitz of the Vermont Human Rights Commission
HeART & HOME EXHIBIT: This partnership between the Fair Housing Project of CVOEO, ONE Arts and the T. W. Wood Gallery showcases several Vermont artists who created works exploring what makes a community thrive in the context of fair housing and inclusivity. Visit the online gallery at www.fairhousingmonthvt.org
HeART & HOME COMMUNITY ART PROJECT: It’s easy to join us for this all-ages art project!
- Think about what HOME or INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY mean to you
- Create a drawing, collage, painting, photo, sculpture, comic, video, or any other type of art
- Take a photo, and share it on the HeART & Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HeARTandHomeVT, on Instagram with the tag #FairHousingMonthVT, or email it to fhp@cvoeo.org.
FAIR HOUSING MONTH WRITING CONTEST: Teens are invited to participate in a Young Writers writing contest for a chance to win cash prizes. Go to https://youngwritersproject.org/node/32735 to respond to prompts on belonging, shelter, and justice.
* We also welcome writing submissions from adults (although the prizes are only for youth). Adults may send writing directly to fhp@cvoeo.org.
We will add more Fair Housing Month activities throughout the month. The evolving schedule is listed at www.fairhousingmonthvt.org.
Fair Housing is the right to equal opportunity in housing choice and the right to rent or buy a dwelling free from discrimination. The federal Fair Housing Act passed into law in April 1968 and prohibits discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, and as amended, disability and family status. Vermont has additional protections based on age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, receipt of public assistance, being a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and denial of development permitting based on the income of prospective residents. For more information about fair housing in Vermont, visit www.cvoeo.org/FHP.
April Fair Housing Month events are made possible with the support of the Champions of Affordable Inclusive Housing and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).