Category Archives: housing discrimination

Vermont Racial Justice Housing Jam: Speaker Series Starts Nov. 3

civil rights, Disparate Impact, Event, fair housing, housing, housing discrimination, Housing Inequality, housing inequality, racial justice
Register now for Increasing Racial Justice in Vermont Housing speaker series

A group of Vermont housing organizations is hosting a free four-part series examining how racial inequities impact access to housing in Vermont.

The public speaker series has been developed by Abundant Sun, together with the Vermont Racial Justice Housing Jam, a committee of community members with lived experience and representatives from nonprofit housing organizations. Local, national, and international speakers will address selected topics focused on increasing racial justice and equity in Vermont housing.  The goal of the initiative is to identify actions on policy, programmatic and cultural levels to expand access to affordable housing for all Vermonters.

All sessions are free and open to the public, and will be held via Zoom from 4:30-6pm with presentations followed by discussions (click on each title to register):

The Vermont Racial Justice Housing Jam is coordinated by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, working in partnership with Abundant Sun, Champlain Housing Trust, Downstreet Housing & Community Development, RuralEdge, Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, NeighborWorks America, and Vermont Housing Finance Agency, with additional support from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.

VT Student Anti-Racism Network launches 2022 racial equity report

environmental justice, fair housing, finance and race, housing discrimination, housing inequality, Inclusive Communities, racial discrimination, Vermont

VSARN (Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network) launched its Racial Equity Report at a virtual press conference on Monday, Aug. 29. VSARN is a Vermont-wide coalition of high school and college students working to combat racial inequities in the state. 

The cover of the Racial Equity Report, authored by VSARN

The report includes recommendations to improve racial inequities in Vermont, including revising state curricula for schools to be culturally inclusive, anti-racist, and multicultural and prioritizing restorative justice practices in schools.

Monday’s event opened with comments from the report’s authors, Emily Maikoo, Addie Lentzner, and Minelle Sarfo Adu, and illustrator, Isabella Ingegneri – all of whom are Vermont high schoolers or new college students. Also present were Saudia LaMont, a candidate for the Vermont House, and Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun (D-Westminster) who congratulated the authors on their work, commenting that they were working to fill an educational gap in Vermont schools. Rep. Bos-Lun noted that the report includes recommendations that she hopes to incorporate into future legislative efforts in the Vermont House, in particular restorative justice in schools. The event concluded with questions from the audience.

Minelle Sarfo Adu of South Burlington, a freshman at Antioch University and past CVOEO/Thriving Communities intern, spoke about racial discrimination in housing – noting that BIPOC families are much less likely to be homeowners in Vermont and are disproportionately impacted by rapidly rising rents. 

Two of the report’s authors, Addie Lentzner and Emily Maikoo, with report illustrator Isabella Ingegneri, Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun, and Vermont House candidate Saudia LaMont, who all spoke at the launch.

Report highlights

In addition to the recommendations to improve racial inequities in Vermont through changes to policing, criminal legal reform, youth justice efforts, educational curriculum, economic justice, housing equity and supports, healthcare reform, and broad trauma-informed education and anti-bias training, the report includes:

  • A brief history of racism and slavery in Vermont and its impact on housing discrimination, healthcare, and criminal justice.
  • The results of the authors’ survey of students at Mount Anthony Union High School, in Bennington, Vt. Key findings included:
    • 79% of respondents said they dis not get a substantial education on race and racism in elementary school
    • 42% of respondents had experienced microaggressions in interactions with teachers
    • 50% of respondents said that is is hard to live in Vermont because of its lack of diversity
  • Read the full report at the VSARN website

And check out press coverage of the launch at VTDigger and WCAX! 

In (or Out of) “The Zone”

Chittenden County, Chittenden County VT, fair housing, housing crisis, housing discrimination, Housing Inequality, inclusionary zoning, Inclusive Communities, zoning,

This guest blog post features Mark Demers, Landlord Liaison at the Champlain Valley of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). Mark helps build relationships with landlords across Chittenden County so that we at CVOEO can strengthen our practices of assisting people with their housing needs. Mark reflects on the way zoning laws can be restrictive to inclusive housing, and the impact that might have on the overall community.  Zoning laws have been used to restrict affordable housing and perpetuate the racial wealth gap. Historically, this has been intentional, with the “protection” that he refers to in his letter being for white people. If you are interested in digging deeper into the topic of zoning and equity, this webinar hosted by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University is a good place to start.

In (or Out of) “The Zone”

I walked into the bedroom and saw my three-year-old sitting on the floor with his back up against his bed, his knees pulled up tight to his chest. His ten-year-old brother with whom he shared the room, was seated at a desk working on a model airplane.

“Why don’t you play with your toys?” I asked the little one.

“I can’t play with my toys,” he said.

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t go past the line to get them.”

I learned that a policy had recently been put in force in the bedroom. The three-year-old was allowed to be in the room as long as he stayed on his “side”, which consisted of the real estate bordered by the wall his bed rested against and a line that ran parallel, about two feet away from the edge of the bed where he currently was sitting. The line was invisible; but it was rigorously enforced by the older brother. The youngest had access to about 15% of the space in the room. He was granted a right-of-way from the door of the bedroom to his “side”.

My youngest was experiencing the inequity of an unjust zoning ordinance – a policy over which he had little control and less say.

In her book “Fixer Upper”, Jenny Schuetz lays significant blame for the current housing crunch across the nation on zoning laws that are as restrictive as they are complicated. Communities are diverse in both their demography and their geography, thus the plethora of zoning not just from one town to another, but from one neighborhood to the next. Burlington is no exception.

Who can be expected to remember the difference between the NMU and the NAC; or the NAC-RC and the NAC-CR? We have RH’s, RM’s, RM-Ws, RL’s and RL-W’s. Each of these designate specific sections of the city and are accompanied by regulations for what can or cannot be built within their boundaries.

Zoning laws are designed to protect something – like wetlands or waterfronts or fabulous views or recreation areas. They protect the character of neighborhoods, keeping them “low density” (“RL”) or “historic” in appearance. Unfortunately, as my youngest son experienced, these laws can do more than protect resources or appearances. They become barriers – as impermeable as they are invisible – that prevent the construction of needed housing or prohibit certain people from living there.

We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We don’t have to look far to see what happens when polluting activities are allowed to go unrestrained on fragile lands. The clean-up takes years and costs millions. We also have to ask ourselves the question: Do we want our children to be able to afford to live here? Burlington doesn’t have room to “build out” and if I read our current zoning laws right, there are not many places where we can “build up”. Something is going to have to give.

I don’t envy those in power faced with the task of mitigating the current housing crisis. My three-year-old son had the benefit of a dad whose authority was enough to adjust oppressive lines that had been arbitrarily set by the bedroom zoning ordinance. The lines drawn in and between our neighborhoods present more of a challenge. They have the power of decades of inertia behind them. But if we are going to have housing that is affordable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible, some of those lines are going to have to move. That’s not just a job for civic leaders; it’s a project that will demand careful thought, compromise – and dare I say it – sacrifice from us all.

 

If you are a landlord or property manager or want to comment on this article, please feel free to give me a call – 863-6248  x 755 or send me an email – mdemers@cvoeo.org.

Eviction vs Termination of Tenancy

Eviction, fair housing, housing discrimination, renters,

Make sure you know the difference!

When filling a housing application the question is often asked, “Have you ever been evicted?” Landlords ask this question to determine whether or not you will be a risk to them as a tenant. Negative rental information, such as late or missed rental payments and evictions, can have a huge impact on your ability to find rental housing, get a loan, and other opportunities. The impact is even more devastating when the information is wrong or misleading.

Before answering yes, it is important to understand the difference between “eviction” and “termination of tenancy.”

Eviction is the legal procedure used when a landlord wants a tenant to move out of an apartment. A tenant is not “evicted” until the entire court process is completed, a judge issues an order, and the order is delivered to the tenant.

Examples of what IS NOT an eviction:

  • Non-renewal of lease
  • A notice to terminate  with nothing filed in court
  • Any eviction that DOES NOT go through a court process
  • Illegal evictions (for example,  a landlord attempts to remove a tenant by shutting off the utilities, changing the locks, or moving a tenants belongings out)

Sometimes people refer to a non-renewal of a lease as an eviction. Because the language around eviction is unclear, the terminology often gets used interchangeably, sometimes even by reputable news sources.

Some applications ask: “Have you ever been evicted or have any eviction proceedings ever been started against you?”

This can be unclear to applicants. What constitutes “any eviction proceedings”? Termination notice or actually filing a Summons and Complaint in court? Answer yes only if there has been a filing in court that actually starts a legal eviction.

Using the correct terminology around eviction and termination of tenancy is critical to ensuring housing opportunities for ALL renters.

This is particularly important for Vermonters who face high rates of discrimination, who are at greater risk of being illegally evicted and already face barriers to accessing housing in Vermont.

Resources:

For immediate housing needs, call 211.

If you may be at risk of eviction, seek help now. Call Vermont LegalAid 1-800-889-2047 and our Vermont Tenants Hotline (below).

Have housing questions or concerns? Contact the CVOEO Housing Advocacy Team: 

  • VERMONT TENANTS HOTLINE: (802) 864-0099, vttenants@cvoeo.org
  • PREFERRED RENTER CERTIFICATES + CLASSES: www.cvoeo.org/rentright
  • MOBILE HOME PROGRAM HOTLINE: (802) 660-3455 x 204
  • VERAP APPLICATION SUPPORT (Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program – mobile home lot rent + utilities: (802) 881-6820
  • FAIR HOUSING PROJECT: Rights & Responsibilities Education, Community planning resources for affordable, inclusive housing, (802) 660-3456 • fhp@cvoeo.org
  • WEBSITE: www.cvoeo.org

The Vermont eviction moratorium expires on July 15, 2021 and the federal CDC eviction moratorium expires July 31. This does not mean that you can be removed from your rental unit right away. You cannot be evicted from your home without a court process. Read more here and contact Vermont Legal Aid for help.

Are you struggling to pay for housing costs due to economic hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic? You may qualify for help from new assistance programs! If you are a renter, check out the Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP). If you are a homeowner, click to learn more about the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP).

New VT housing discrimination survey – Please spread the word!

housing discrimination, Inclusive Communities, racial discrimination, Vermont

By Shiferaw Gemeda
Fair Housing Project Community Organizer

The Fair Housing Project of CVOEO and the Vermont Human Rights Commission are collecting data on the prevalence of housing discrimination in Vermont. We know that many people experience illegal housing discrimination, exclusion, and harassment but only a small percentage of these instances get reported. We have developed a community survey to learn more about housing stability in Vermont and the ways that people are excluded from or treated differently in housing.

Have you ever been denied access to housing or been treated differently in your apartment search or home purchase, financing or other transactions because of your race, skin color, disability, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation/gender identity, or because you have children, receive public assistance (like Section 8 or other vouchers), or have experienced abuse, sexual assault, or stalking?

Please spare few minutes to answer this confidential survey. It is available in English, Nepali, Arabic, Spanish, and French. A printable version is available for download here. The survey deadline is July 12, 2021.

Survey link:  https://forms.office.com/r/jDJG5zu1J9

The results will be used to design better strategies to ensure fair and equitable housing choice for all in the state of Vermont.

For more information, contact Shiferaw Gemeda at sgemeda@cvoeo.org.

Fair Housing Friday: Just Cause Eviction & Why It is Important for Housing Equity Feb 26

Burlington, Eviction, fair housing, fair housing fridays, housing discrimination, housing inequality, Inclusive Communities, Uncategorized

Join us for a lunchtime conversation on Just Cause Eviction on Friday, Feb. 26 – 12:30-1:30pm.

Panelists include Brian Pine, speaking on behalf of the Just Cause Coalition, Michael Monte from Champlain Housing Trust, Bor Yang from the Vermont Human Rights Commission, and Christie Delphia from the Burlington Tenants Union. 

This conversation will highlight the ways language similar to Just Cause is already being used by nonprofit housers across Vermont, why evictions should be avoided & when they are actually necessary, and how Just Cause can combat housing discrimination. This lunchtime conversation will be recorded and have time at the end for a Q & A session.

Register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvd-2hrDovG90HXUx0PDe1zXZYj6e7HHnI

And you can share our facebook event here:

http://https://www.facebook.com/events/451236372739293

Regarding the Just Cause Opposition’s recent disinformation campaign:

On Monday Morning of February 22nd, leaders from Rights & Democracy VT, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition, The Black Perspective, Burlington City Council, Burlington Tenants Union, Burlington VT Democrats Vermont, state representative Kesha Ram -among others- came forward to address a recent disinformation campaign lead by the opposition to Just Cause. Leaders condemn the red lawn signs designed to scare tenants, spread baseless statements and co-op racial equity language.

 

And here is the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalitions response to this recent smear campaign: https://www.vtaffordablehousing.org/2021/02/19/the-vermont-affordable-housing-coalition-fully-supports-the-burlington-just-cause-charter-change-proposal/

 

Understanding Protections Against Sexual Harassments in Housing

fair housing, housing discrimination, human rights

ft. Emily Collins, Civil Rights Specialist Contractor for The United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Vermont

This guest blog feature is by Emily Collins, a Civil Rights Specialist, Contractor for Vermont’s United States Attorney’s Office . The United States Attorney’s Office is one of the resources available for folks who want to file a complaint about housing discrimination, particularly if there are patterns or practices of discrimination. CVOEO’s Fair Housing project welcomes our partners to add their voices to our Thriving Communities blog. Please send inquiries to fhp@cvoeo.org Continue reading Understanding Protections Against Sexual Harassments in Housing →