Background
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has filed eight housing discrimination complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development against major apartment complex owners for discriminating against the deaf and hard of hearing across the country.
NFHA conducted 304 tests of 117 apartment complexes in 25 states. Of those tested, one out of four reportedly treated deaf and hard of hearing callers differently from hearing callers in a manner that appeared to violate the Fair Housing Act. According to one news outlet, the reported issues stem from testers who called apartment community leasing offices using an electronic system for the deaf and hard of hearing. The complaints say that the representatives who took the calls at the properties may have hung up on callers using the service.
In light of these concerns, NAA will conduct a webinar to provide fair housing education and guidance addressing the deaf and hard of hearing.
Webinar Details
The webinar will feature a panel of experts, including Stella Adams, founder and CEO of S J Adams Consulting, which performs research and policy development in the areas of fair housing, and fair lending. Ms. Adams currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for the Patricia Roberts Harris National Fair Housing Training Academy providing subject matter expertise, technical assistance and policy guidance to the Academy which prepares professional fair housing investigators to identify housing discrimination and predatory lending.
Ms. Adams is a highly sought after speaker and has appeared on MSNBC’s “Melissa Harris-Perry Show.” She has presented at national and regional conferences sponsored by HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, The Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and San Francisco, NAACP, Mortgage Bankers Association, Federal Trade Commission and the Democratic National Committee.
During the webinar, Ms. Adams will address best practices in answering and responding to 711 relay calls, and responding to requests for Reasonable Accommodations and Reasonable Modifications by residents who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Watch Stella Adams and the Webinar Wednesday Team in this recorded broadcast for a fair housing education session focusing on the deaf and hard of hearing!
Who should watch:
On Site Team Members, Regional Managers, Small Owners, Management Company Executives, Training Directors
About Stella Adams :
Stella Adams is the founder and CEO of S J Adams Consulting, which performs research and policy development in the areas of fair housing, and fair lending. Ms. Adams served on the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council (1/05-12/07), which advised the Board on the exercise of its responsibilities under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Ms. Adams served as the Chair of the Community Affairs and Housing subcommittee and led the discussions on strengthening HOEPA to protect consumers from Predatory Lenders. Ms. Adams currently serves on the following Boards and Commissions: The National Community Reinvestment Coalition; The National Association of American Veterans, Inc. The North Carolina Fix the Debt Steering Committee, and The NC State Conference of Branches of the NAACP.
About Debra Patkin:
Debra Patkin is a staff attorney with the NAD. Her job duties include litigating civil-rights cases, advocating on behalf of the deaf and hard of hearing community, handling consumer inquiries regarding legal issues, and outreach/education. Prior to joining the NAD, she worked as a litigation attorney at the Disability Rights Legal Center in Los Angeles, California. Debra received her J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. She also has a M.A. in Linguistics from Gallaudet University and a B.S. in Psychology from R.I.T. She juggles her legal job with her another job – being a mother. In her spare time, she enjoys rooting for Boston sports teams and doing outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.
Moderated by Doug Chasick.
Doug Chasick is “The Apartment Doctor”, restoring rental health to multifamily professionals. With 37 years of investment real estate experience, he began as the Resident Manager of a 524-unit apartment property, and has been the President or CEO of five real estate companies, responsible for portfolios of over 28,000 apartments, and more than 8 million square feet of commercial, retail and industrial properties. A nationally recognized speaker and author, Doug was awarded his CPM® in 1979 and was a member of the IREM National Faculty for eight years. He is a Senior Instructor member of the NAAEI Faculty, leading the Advanced Instructor Training course and NAAEI designation courses. A licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida and Georgia, he is also a licensed Expert Fair Housing Instructor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the recipient of the 2010 NAAEI Apartment Career & Education (ACE) award and the 2010 Legends of the Industry award from Multifamily Professional and the Annual Brainstorming Sessions.
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* Each registration is good for one attendee OR one on-site team. If you would like multiple attendees, group viewing events, or other needs, please contact us.
